An elementary school in Daejeon, South Korea, was the site of a shocking tragedy when a teacher fatally stabbed an eight-year-old girl.
The incident occurred on Monday evening, causing shockwaves throughout the nation.
The teacher, a woman in her 40s, admitted to carrying out the attack, according to police. Authorities discovered the child with stab wounds on the second floor of the school building at around 6:00 p.m. local time (9:00 a.m. GMT). The girl was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. The teacher, found nearby with apparent self-inflicted injuries, is currently recovering in the hospital.
South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for an in-depth investigation and urged officials to take all necessary steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future. On Tuesday, flowers and a stuffed toy were left at the school gates as a somber tribute to the young victim.
During a press briefing, Yook Jong-myung, head of the Daejeon Western Police Station, provided updates on the case. He confirmed that the teacher had a neck wound requiring stitches and had shown signs of mental distress prior to the incident.
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The Daejeon education office revealed that the teacher had requested a six-month leave due to depression in December but returned to work 20 days later after receiving medical clearance. During her time off, she reportedly experienced suicidal thoughts.
In the days leading up to the attack, the teacher exhibited alarming behavior, including physically confronting a colleague. On Monday morning, just hours before the tragedy, education officials visited the school to investigate this altercation. They recommended that the teacher be placed on leave and monitored closely.
Although the teacher had not been assigned any teaching duties or contact with students since her return, she reportedly purchased a weapon on the day of the incident. According to her testimony, she had intended to end her life and take the life of a child, targeting the last student to leave the school. She managed to lure the victim into a media room, where the attack occurred.
The school bus driver reported the child missing after she failed to arrive at her pickup point.
South Korea, known for its low crime rate and strict gun control laws, has recently faced a rise in violent crimes, including stabbings. “Schools should be the safest places for our children,” acting president Choi said, expressing deep condolences to the grieving family.
