Teacher in South Korea fatally stabs 8-year-old student, sparks outrage

An elementary school teacher in South Korea has fatally stabbed an eight-year-old girl in an attack that has shocked the nation, officials said Tuesday.

The female teacher, in her 40s, confessed to stabbing the student at a school in the central city of Daejeon on Monday.

The girl was found with stab wounds on the second floor of the school building at around 18:00 local time (09:00 GMT) and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The teacher was discovered beside the child with injuries that authorities believe may have been self-inflicted. Police said she remains hospitalized and will be further interrogated after recovering from surgery.

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered an investigation into the incident and called for immediate measures to prevent similar attacks.

“It pains me to see such an incident because a school should be our safest space,” Choi said. “I offer my deep condolences to the victim’s family who suffered great shock and agony.”

The school was closed on Tuesday, and mourners left flowers and stuffed dolls at its entrance.

According to the Daejeon education office, the teacher had requested a six-month leave of absence due to depression on December 9 but returned just 20 days later after being assessed as fit to work.

Authorities said she had no prior relationship with the student and had not been teaching any classes since her return.

Days before the attack, the teacher exhibited violent behavior, including putting a fellow teacher in a headlock.

The education office recommended placing her on leave and keeping her under close supervision.

On the day of the stabbing, she was made to sit beside the vice principal’s desk for monitoring.

Officials from the education office had visited the school on Monday morning to investigate the altercation with the other teacher.

The child was reported missing Monday evening after a school bus driver informed the school that she had not arrived for pickup.