Teacher fatally stabs eight-year-old student in South Korea

A tragic incident at an elementary school in South Korea has left the nation in shock after a teacher fatally stabbed an eight-year-old girl. The attack took place in the central city of Daejeon on Monday evening, and authorities have since launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime.

The suspect, a female teacher in her 40s, confessed to the stabbing, according to local police. The young girl was found with stab wounds on the second floor of the school building at approximately 18:00 local time (09:00 GMT) and was rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The teacher was discovered nearby with injuries that police suspect were self-inflicted. She is currently receiving treatment in the hospital, with officials stating that her neck wound has been stitched.

Following the tragedy, South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, ordered a full-scale investigation into the case. He called for authorities to implement measures to ensure such incidents do not happen again, emphasizing that schools should be a place of safety. On Tuesday, the school remained closed as devastated locals placed flowers and a stuffed doll at the entrance to pay tribute to the victim.

According to police, the teacher had requested a six-month leave of absence due to depression on December 9 but returned to work just 20 days later after a medical evaluation deemed her fit for duty.

Investigators revealed that during her time off, she had reported having suicidal thoughts. In the days leading up to the attack, the teacher had exhibited aggressive behavior, including an incident where she placed a fellow teacher in a headlock. This prompted an investigation by the Daejeon education office, and two officials visited the school on the morning of the stabbing to assess the situation.

Following the altercation with her colleague, education authorities recommended that the teacher be placed on leave and physically separated from other staff members. As a precaution, she was seated next to the vice principal’s desk for close supervision. She had not been assigned any classes since her return from leave and had no prior interaction with the eight-year-old student.

In her testimony to police, the teacher admitted that she was frustrated at being unable to return to teaching. She disclosed that she had purchased a weapon on the day of the attack with the intent of ending her own life along with a student’s. She stated that she did not target a specific child, instead attacking the last student to leave. She managed to lure the girl into the media room before carrying out the fatal stabbing.

The student was reported missing on Monday evening when a school bus driver informed authorities that she had not arrived at her usual pick-up location.

South Korea is widely regarded as a safe country with strict gun control laws, but in recent years, it has seen a rise in violent crimes, including knife attacks. The incident has sparked national outrage and grief, with many calling for reforms to better address mental health concerns among educators. Acting President Choi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending his condolences to the victim’s family, who are experiencing unimaginable grief.