Life Sentence for Teacher Who Stabbed 8-Year-Old in South Korea

Mon Oct 20 2025 16:55:55 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A teacher was sentenced to life in prison for the shocking murder of an eight-year-old girl, highlighting critical issues surrounding safety in schools. The case has stirred national outrage and calls for reform.

Myeong Jae-wan, a 48-year-old teacher, was sentenced to life imprisonment for fatally stabbing eight-year-old Kim Hae-neul in a classroom incident that shocked South Korea. Despite prosecutors seeking the death penalty, the court ruled that execution was not warranted. The case raised significant concerns about child safety in educational institutions, prompting calls for preventive measures against future violence.

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, stating the victim's family requested a harsh punishment.

However, the court determined that while the risk of reoffending was high, it was difficult to conclude that Myeong should be executed.

Myeong expressed a desire to reflect on her mistakes for the rest of her life, citing weakened judgment at the time of the stabbing due to ongoing mental health treatment.

Nevertheless, prosecutors claimed Myeong showed no remorse during the investigation, despite later submitting letters expressing regret.

Prior to the incident, Myeong had displayed violent behavior, including an altercation with another teacher. On the day of the stabbing, education officials were investigating her earlier conduct.

Myeong admitted to bringing a weapon to school with the intent to kill both herself and a child at random. After luring Kim into the media room, she attacked her.

Kim was reported missing and later found in the school with stab wounds, while Myeong also had a wound on her neck, potentially self-inflicted.

The shocking nature of the crime has prompted South Korea's leaders to call for enhanced safety measures to protect students in schools.

Myeong will also be required to wear an electronic tracking device for the next 30 years. The court emphasized that as a teacher, she was expected to safeguard her students, not endanger them.