A tragic incident unfolded at an elementary school in Daejeon, South Korea, on February 10, when a teacher allegedly killed an eight-year-old student.
The teacher, a woman in her 40s, reportedly confessed to the crime after police discovered both her and the victim, identified as Kim Ha-Neul, with stab wounds in the audiovisual room of the school that evening. According to local reports, Kim was taken to the hospital in critical condition but unfortunately did not survive.
The teacher sustained stab wounds to her neck and arm, which officials suspect may have been self-inflicted. Investigations revealed that the teacher had previously taken a leave of absence due to depression and had returned to work only late last year.
At the time of the attack, Kim was at the school for after-school care, waiting to attend a private art class. Police were alerted by Kim’s parents after she failed to show up for the class, prompting a search around 6:00 PM (0900 GMT) that led to the grim discovery.
The teacher underwent surgery for her injuries, and police plan to resume questioning her soon. Reports suggest she stated she attacked Kim due to anger over being barred from teaching after her return following medical leave. The teacher reportedly did not know Kim prior to the incident.
She allegedly lured Kim into the room by offering her a book, then proceeded to strangle and stab the girl in an act of anger directed at a vice principal who had restricted her from teaching. Authorities are investigating this claim.
According to police, the suspect expressed intentions to randomly select a student to attack, planning to strike the last child to leave the classroom. Kim happened to be the last student that day. The teacher had also mentioned contemplating her own death afterward.
Investigators learned that the teacher purchased a knife hours before the incident from a store near the school. She is now facing charges of premeditated murder.
On the day of the attack, Kim was waiting for a shuttle bus after her after-school program when she went missing. Concerned about her absence for her art class, her family initiated a police search. Kim’s father heard distressing sounds through an app installed on her phone, leading him to worry for her safety.
Around an hour later, Kim’s grandmother discovered the teacher in the audiovisual room, covered in blood, prompting further investigation by the police.
The teacher had returned to work earlier than expected after a brief period of leave and had shown signs of violent behavior shortly before the incident.
Kim’s father reported that the autopsy revealed numerous stab wounds over her body, including on her hands, suggesting she had fought back.
In his grief, he urged the government to implement measures to prevent such tragedies in the future, advocating for reforms in how cases of mental health are managed among educators.
On February 11, the family made the decision to publicly share Kim’s name and image, hoping to raise awareness and prevent future incidents. Mourners have since gathered to pay their respects to Kim Ha-Neul and support her family during this profoundly difficult time.
