A teacher has fatally stabbed an eight-year-old girl at an elementary school in South Korea in a tragic incident that has left the nation in shock.
The female teacher, who is in her 40s, confessed to the attack in the central city of Daejeon, according to police. The girl was found with multiple stab wounds on the second floor of a school building at approximately 6:00 PM on Monday. She was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead. The teacher was found beside her with injuries that police suspect were self-inflicted.
What Actions Have Authorities Taken?
South Korea’s acting President, Choi Sang-mok, immediately investigated the case on Tuesday and urged authorities to “implement necessary measures to ensure such incidents never happen again.”
The school was closed on Tuesday as a mark of respect. Some locals laid flowers and a stuffed doll at the school gate to mourn the young victim.
What Do Police and School Officials Say About the Teacher?
During a police briefing, Yook Jong-myung, head of the Daejeon Western Police Station, stated that the teacher is currently recovering in the hospital, having suffered a neck wound that required stitches.
According to the Daejeon education office, the teacher had initially requested a six-month leave of absence due to depression on December 9. However, she returned to school just 20 days after a doctor deemed her fit to work. During her time off, she reportedly had suicidal thoughts.
Days before the stabbing, the teacher exhibited violent behaviour, including putting another teacher in a headlock, prompting the education office to investigate. Two officials from the education office visited the school on Monday morning to assess the situation.
Was the Teacher Considered a Threat?
Following the altercation with her colleague, the education office recommended that the teacher be placed on leave and physically separated from other staff members. As a precaution, she was seated beside the vice principal’s desk to be closely monitored.
The education office confirmed that the teacher had not been assigned to teach any classes since returning from her leave in December and had no prior contact with the eight-year-old student she later attacked.
Why Did the Teacher Attack the Child?
According to police testimony, the teacher expressed frustration at not being allowed to return to teaching. She admitted to purchasing a weapon on the day of the attack and bringing it to school to kill herself along with a child.
She further stated that she did not target any specific student but chose the last child to leave. She lured the child into the media room before launching the fatal attack.
How Was the Victim Discovered?
The young girl was reported missing on Monday evening after a bus driver notified the school that she had not arrived at the designated pick-up point. School staff searched the premises, ultimately discovering her in the media room.
What Is the National Reaction?
South Korea, known for its strict gun control laws and relatively low crime rates, has been shaken by a series of high-profile violent crimes in recent years, including stabbings. The murder of a child inside a school—considered one of the safest places—has deeply disturbed the public.
Acting President Choi expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating, “It pains me to see such incidents because a school should be our safest space. I offer my deep condolences to the victim’s family, who have suffered great shock and agony.”
