South Korean Teacher Sentenced to Life for Murder of 8-Year-Old Student

South Korean teacher Myeong Jae-wan was sentenced to life in prison for killing an eight-year-old student at school. She cited mental health issues, but the court found her a high reoffending risk. The case sparked national outrage and calls for better school safety. Myeong will also wear a tracking device for 30 years.

A court in South Korea has handed down a life sentence to a teacher who fatally stabbed an eight-year-old girl, in a deeply disturbing case that has horrified the nation and raised serious concerns about school safety and mental health oversight. The incident took place in February in the central city of Daejeon, where the teacher, identified as 48-year-old Myeong Jae-wan, lured the young student, Kim Hae-neul, into a classroom before carrying out the fatal attack. The shocking nature of the crime and the circumstances surrounding it have sparked widespread outrage and grief across the country.

Prosecutors in the case had called for the death penalty, describing the murder as especially brutal and arguing that the victim’s family had requested the most severe punishment under the law. They emphasized the calculated nature of the attack and the betrayal of trust involved, as the accused was in a position of responsibility and care over young children. However, the court ultimately decided against capital punishment, stating that although there was a “high risk of reoffending,” it was not convinced that the circumstances justified execution. The decision has stirred debate in South Korea, where public sentiment around the death penalty remains divided.

During the trial, Myeong claimed that she would reflect on her actions for the rest of her life. She explained that her mental state was severely compromised at the time of the incident and that she had been undergoing treatment for psychological issues. Despite her claims of remorse, prosecutors argued that Myeong showed no regret during the investigation phase. They highlighted her lack of cooperation and emotional detachment in the aftermath of the crime. In response, Myeong submitted dozens of handwritten letters to the court, expressing sorrow and seeking forgiveness. These letters were considered by the court during sentencing but did not sway the final outcome.

Information from the Daejeon education office revealed that Myeong had requested a six-month leave of absence from her teaching position, citing depression. Nevertheless, she returned to work just 20 days later, after a doctor had deemed her fit to resume her duties. This early return raised questions about the thoroughness of mental health assessments in educational settings. Furthermore, in the days leading up to the fatal incident, Myeong reportedly exhibited increasingly erratic and violent behavior. One particularly alarming incident involved her placing another teacher in a headlock, prompting internal concerns and an administrative response from school authorities.

On the morning of the attack, two officials from the local education department had arrived at the school to investigate that prior act of aggression. At some point during that same day, Myeong told authorities, she purchased a weapon with the intention of ending both her own life and that of a random student. She admitted to deliberately luring Kim Hae-neul into the school’s media room under false pretenses. Once inside, she carried out the attack, fatally stabbing the child. The deliberate nature of the act, as well as its execution within the supposed safety of a school environment, contributed to the intense public reaction to the case.

The disappearance of Kim was first noticed when a school bus driver informed staff that the young girl had not arrived to be picked up as scheduled. This prompted a search of the school premises, and she was discovered later that same day, already deceased from her injuries. Myeong was found nearby with a neck wound, which police later identified as potentially self-inflicted. She received medical treatment for the injury and was taken into custody shortly afterward.

In the wake of the incident, leaders across South Korea called for immediate action to ensure the safety of students and to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The case reignited national conversations about mental health support for educators, the effectiveness of school monitoring systems, and the criteria for allowing teachers to return to classrooms after psychological treatment.

As part of her sentence, in addition to life in prison, Myeong has been ordered to wear an electronic location-tracking device for a duration of 30 years. This measure was implemented to further mitigate any risk she might pose to society, should her status ever change in the future.

The court, in delivering its final verdict, emphasized the gravity of Myeong’s betrayal of her role as an educator. “As an elementary school teacher, the accused was in a position to protect the victim,” the court said. “But she committed this brutal crime in which a child was not protected where they should be most safe.” The statement reflected the broader sense of violation felt by many across the country—a collective heartbreak at the idea that a place intended for learning and growth had instead become the scene of a tragic and violent loss.