In brief
Myeong Jae-wan, a 48-year-old teacher, received a life sentence for fatally stabbing her student Kim Hae-neul in Daejeon, South Korea. The incident shocked the nation and raised questions about the mental health of educators. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, but the court cited the difficulty of concluding that Myeong must be executed despite a high risk of reoffending. Following the attack, safety measures in schools are being reconsidered amid public outcry.
A South Korean court has sentenced a teacher to life in prison for fatally stabbing an eight-year-old girl, in a case that shocked the nation.
Myeong Jae-wan, 48, killed Kim Hae-neul after luring her into a classroom in the central city of Daejeon in February.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Myeong, saying that the victim's family had asked for a harsh punishment. However, the court stated that while the risk of reoffending is high, it is difficult to conclude that Myeong must be executed.
Myeong expressed that she would reflect on her mistakes for the rest of her life, stating her judgment had weakened at the time of the stabbing as she was receiving mental health treatment. Prosecutors claimed Myeong showed no remorse during the investigation, but she submitted numerous letters to the court expressing regret.
Myeong had taken a six-month leave of absence due to depression but returned to work within 20 days after a doctor's evaluation deemed her fit. Prior to the stabbing, she demonstrated violent behavior, including an altercation with another teacher. On the day of the incident, education officials visited the school to investigate this altercation.
Myeong confessed to planning to kill herself along with a random child, having purchased a weapon that day. She lured Kim into a media room and attacked her. Kim was later found with stab wounds, and Myeong was also discovered with a self-inflicted wound on her neck.
The incident prompted a nationwide call for enhanced safety measures in schools. Myeong has also been ordered to wear an electronic location tracking device for 30 years. The court emphasized that as an elementary school teacher, Myeong was in a position to protect the victim but committed a brutal crime instead.
