South Korean teacher who fatally stabbed student, 8, gets life sentence, evades death penalty

A South Korean elementary school teacher who fatally stabbed her 8-year-old student in February 2025 has been sentenced to life in prison by a local district court.

According to the verdict, Myeong Jae-wan, 48, had lured the girl into an audiovisual room after classes had ended on Feb. 10, saying she would give her a book, The Korea Herald reported.

Myeong then stabbed the child to death with a knife.

Myeong herself suffered severe wounds on her neck and arm, requiring emergency treatment at a hospital. Officials suspected her injuries were self-inflicted.

Earlier during the trial in September, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Myeong.

They pointed out the brutality of the murder, and argued that she showed no sign of remorse throughout the investigation.

Delivering the sentence on Oct. 20, the judge highlighted "the pain and fear felt" by the victim, and that she was killed in a school, which "should have been the safest place".

"A heavy sentence that permanently isolates the defendant from society is inevitable," the judge added.

However, the court ultimately imposed a life sentence, saying that "while the risk of reoffending is high, it is difficult to conclude that the defendant must be executed", The Korea Herald reported.

Myeong was also ordered to wear an electronic tracking device for 30 years.

Mental health struggles

Myeong had shown violent behaviour before the stabbing.

She was also charged with kicking and damaging a school computer, and assaulting a fellow teacher several days before the murder, The Korea Times reported.

Previously in September, prosecutors described the murder as an "abnormal motive crime".

They said that Myeong attempted to resolve her anger over family troubles and her difficulties adjusting at work by targeting someone weaker than herself.

Before the murder, she had requested a six-month leave of absence, citing depression, BBC quoted the district education office as saying in February.

However, a doctor assessed her as being fit to work, and she returned to the school in December 2024 after 20 days of leave.

In her final statement, Myeong apologised to the victim's family that "such a senseless act was committed by a teacher in a place that should be the safest", as quoted by The Korea Herald.

"My judgment was clouded while undergoing mental health treatment, and I will reflect on my wrongdoing for the rest of my life," she added.

A psychiatric evaluation, requested by the defence, affirmed that Myeong was in a state of mental and physical weakness at the time of the crime.

According to BBC, she previously submitted dozens of letters to the court expressing remorse.

Nonetheless, while calling for the death penalty in September, the prosecutors highlighted the earlier assessment by a doctor that Myeong's depression had nearly resolved and she could return to work, The Korea Herald reported.

"The defendant’s mental illness, including depression, does not appear to have a causal relationship with the crime," the prosecutors argued.

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Top image from the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency and Kim Ki Tae/News1