Daejeon: A local court on Monday sentenced a teacher to life in prison for murdering a 7-year-old student at their school in Daejeon in February. The Daejeon District Court handed down the sentence to Myeong Jae-wan, 48, after convicting her of stabbing the girl, Kim Ha-neul, to death.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the court emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, "Murder is a crime that takes away the life of a human being, and an unprecedented case occurred where an elementary school teacher brutally murdered a victim aged only seven at the school where she worked." The court noted the teacher's breach of duty, highlighting that the school should have been a safe place for the child, and instead, she was harmed by someone entrusted with her care.
Myeong was accused of luring Ha-neul to a classroom on the afternoon of February 5, when the girl was leaving an afterschool care program. Myeong offered the child a book to draw her into the classroom and then stabbed her with a weapon she had prepared in advance. The crime shocked the community, raising concerns about safety in educational institutions.
Additionally, Myeong was charged with other offenses, including kicking and damaging a school computer and assaulting another teacher who had requested to leave work together, several days before the murder. These actions further painted a picture of a troubled individual acting out in violence.
Prosecutors had described the case as an "abnormal motive crime," suggesting that Myeong attempted to resolve her anger over family issues and maladjustment at work by targeting someone weaker than herself. They had sought the death penalty, reflecting the severity with which they viewed the crime.