Cheongju: A special-ed student attacked people with a weapon at a high school in Cheongju on Monday, injuring seven people, including the principal and himself, officials said. The attack occurred around 8:40 a.m. in the city, located approximately 110 kilometers south of Seoul, when an 18-year-old second-grade high school student left his classroom during a meeting with his counselor and began stabbing individuals in the corridor.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the student exited the school afterward and injured two passersby before jumping into a nearby reservoir. One of the victims, a 43-year-old surnamed Im, recounted, "I was taking my children to kindergarten and driving slowly near the school because of traffic when the student came up and knocked on the door. I opened the window and he stabbed my face without saying anything before running away." The victims were transported to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, affecting the chest, abdomen, and other areas. None of the injuries are life-threatening, as confirmed by officials.
First responders rescued the student from the reservoir, and he is currently in police custody following treatment at a hospital. Authorities plan to charge him with attempted murder and will conduct further questioning regarding the incident's specifics.
The North Chungcheong Province Office of Education, overseeing the school, confirmed that no students witnessed the stabbing as it occurred after classes had commenced. Classes were reduced to the seventh period on Monday, and parents have been informed of the situation. Yoon Geon-young, the superintendent of education for the province, stated, "We apologize for the unforeseen incident and will analyze the exact circumstances and cause while coming up with response measures."