Legal affairs bureaus nationwide handled a record 3,306 bullying cases at schools last year, up 21.8 percent from the previous year, the Justice Ministry said Friday.

Cases of child abuse also reached a record, at 865, up 12.2 percent, the ministry said.

Of the total, 491 cases were reported by people affected by the March disaster, including children who were bullied at schools after having to move out of the disaster zone, the ministry said.