A primary school teacher in Daejeon, South Korea, was arrested on February 11, 2025, after allegedly luring her 7-year-old student, Kim Ha-neul, into a room and fatally strangling and stabbing her. The teacher reportedly acted out of annoyance just three days after returning to work following a leave for depression.
- Teacher lured student before fatal attack.
- Victim Kim Ha-neul, age 7.
- Teacher admitted to killing out of annoyance.
- Teacher had history of mental health issues.
- Community mourns with tributes and flowers.
- Father tracked daughter’s location via app.
The incident occurred after school hours, leading to a tragic scene that has left the community in mourning.
The tragic event unfolded on a Monday evening when the teacher, who has not been publicly named, invited Kim Ha-neul into an audiovisual room under the pretense of giving her a book. Once inside, the teacher reportedly strangled and stabbed the young girl. This incident has raised serious concerns about mental health support for educators and the safety of students in schools.
Details surrounding the incident indicate that the teacher had exhibited troubling behavior prior to the attack. Reports suggest she had damaged school property during an outburst earlier that day and had a history of aggressive incidents, including twisting a colleague’s arm. The teacher later told police that she purchased a knife earlier that day and expressed a disturbing indifference to her victim, stating she “didn’t care who” she chose to attack.
Following the attack, Kim Ha-neul’s grandmother discovered the scene in the classroom. The girl’s father, who had been tracking her location via a phone app, raised the alarm after noticing she had not boarded the school bus home. He described hearing unsettling sounds through the app as he tried to locate her. In the aftermath, the community has come together to mourn the loss of a child described as thoughtful and caring by her father, who emphasized the need for safety in schools.
This heartbreaking case underscores the critical need for improved mental health awareness and intervention strategies in schools. The community’s response reflects a deep sorrow for the loss of a young life and a call for measures to ensure such tragedies do not occur in the future.
