Teacher Who Killed Eight-Year-Old Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in South Korea

In a case that stunned the country, a South Korean court sentenced a teacher to life in prison for fatally stabbing an eight-year-old child. In February, 48-year-old Myeong Jae-wan lured Kim Hae-neul into a classroom in Daejeon’s central region, where she killed her.

Myeong’s death was sought by prosecutors, who claimed that the victim’s family had requested a severe punishment.
But even though “the likelihood of reoffending is considerable, it is impossible to conclude” that Myeong has to be put to death, the court stated. Myeong stated that she would spend the rest of her life thinking back on her errors.

She claimed that because she was undergoing mental health therapy at the time of the stabbing, her judgment had deteriorated. According to the prosecution, Myeong shown no regret during the course of the investigation. Nonetheless, Myeong sent the court dozens of letters expressing regret.

According to the Daejeon education office in February, Myeong had previously asked for a six-month leave of absence, citing depression, but she returned to school 20 days later after a doctor determined she was healthy enough to work. According to the education office, she had engaged in violent behavior in the days prior to the stabbing, including placing another instructor in a headlock.

Two education authorities had come to the school to look into that previous altercation on the morning of the stabbing. On the day of the attack, Myeong purchased a firearm and brought it to school with the intention of killing herself and an unidentified youngster, she told authorities.

She also admitted to the police that she had attacked Kim after luring her into the media room.

After a bus driver notified the school that Kim, the student, had not shown up to be picked up that day, she was reported missing. Later that day, she and Myeong were discovered at school, both with stab wounds. According to the authorities, Myeong may have self-inflicted the wound on her neck. It was stitched up later in hospital.

South Korea’s leaders at the time called for safety measures to ensure such incidents never happen again.
Myeong has also been ordered to wear an electronic location tracking device for 30 years.

“As an elementary school teacher, the accused was in a position to protect the victim,” said the court’s verdict on Monday. “But she committed this brutal crime in which a child was not protected where they should be most safe.”