Authorities in South Korea are investigating the Daejeon elementary school stabbing, where a teacher fatally attacked an eight-year-old girl on Monday evening. The female teacher in her 40s confessed to the crime, prompting national outrage and demands for stricter safety measures.
Police found the young student with stab wounds on the second floor of the school. Emergency responders rushed her to a hospital, but doctors pronounced her dead upon arrival. Officers also discovered the teacher nearby, including a wound on her neck that required stitches.
Acting president Choi Sang-mok revealed that the teacher had requested a six-month leave in December due to depression. A doctor, however, cleared her to return just 20 days later. Officials also noted that she exhibited concerning behaviors before the attack.
Two education officials visited the school on Monday morning to investigate that previous incident. They recommended placing the teacher on leave and keeping her away from the teacher she attacked previously.
According to her police testimony, the teacher purchased a weapon on the day of the attack to end her own life. She admitted she planned to die alongside a child, selecting her victim at random. She lured the last remaining student into the media room before carrying out the fatal stabbing.
The school realized the girl was missing when a bus driver reported she never arrived for pickup. The Daejeon elementary school stabbing has renewed discussions about mental health support for educators and stronger preventative measures in South Korea´s schools.
