Teacher admits to stabbing seven-year-old girl to death at school

11 February 2025, 06:05

A bouquet of chrysanthemums with a message, 'Don't be in pain and rest in peace,' is laid at an elementary school in the central city of Daejeon on Feb. 11, 2025.
A bouquet of chrysanthemums with a message, 'Don't be in pain and rest in peace,' is laid at an elementary school in the central city of Daejeon on Feb. 11, 2025. Picture: Alamy

By Henry Moore

A teacher has admitted to stabbing a seven-year-old girl to death at a South Korean school.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The female teacher, who is in her 40s, was taken to hospital and treated for self-inflicted wounds following the attack, authorities said.

The woman is yet to be arrested as police continue their investigations.

Police confirmed the young girl attended the school where the teacher worked in Daejeon- but are yet to determine if the pair shared a personal relationship.

She was reported missing on Monday evening after a school bus driver noticed her absence.

Read more: Woman, 36, found dead after man seen trying to force his way into flat in west London

A woman lays a bouquet of chrysanthemums at an elementary school in the central city of Daejeon.
A woman lays a bouquet of chrysanthemums at an elementary school in the central city of Daejeon. Picture: Alamy

The girl, found by her grandmother, suffered stab wounds and her neck and face, a local fire department official told Reuters on Monday.

She was in cardiac arrest when emergency workers found her and later died in hospital.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok paid tribute to the young girl during a cabinet meeting, calling on authorities to lead a thorough investigation into what led to the attack.

"It pains me to see such incident because a school should be our safest space," said acting president Choi.

"I offer my deep condolences to the victim's family who suffered great shock and agony."

According to local media, the teacher had taken a leave of absence while suffering from depression and only returned to work late last year.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Parts of an Air India plane that crashed on Thursday are seen on top of a building in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, June 13, 2025.

Investigators look into Air India's vital engine switches after plane crash killed 270 people

A top Ukrainian intelligence officer has been shot dead.

Ukrainian intelligence officer accused of sabotage attacks in Russia shot dead in Kyiv

A hospital has reported that children queuing for supplements have been killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

10 children queuing for nutritional supplements killed in Israeli strike in Gaza, hospital says

Jota and his brother died in a car crash last week.

'You have my word they weren’t speeding': Truck driver who filmed Diogo Jota car crash aftermath disputes police report

Mr Trump asked where Joseph Boakai learned to speak "so beautifully" at a White House meeting with West African leaders on Wednesday.

Donald Trump compliments Liberian President's 'beautiful' English - the country's official language

A mother with her twins walks outside of their house which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine

Two killed and 14 injured as Russia launches drone attack on Kyiv following Moscow's largest-ever aerial strike

Palestinians facing food shortages gather to receive the humanitarian aid to be delivered through the Netzarim Corridor in the central Gaza Strip on July 02

Gaza permanent ceasefire is 'questionable', says senior Israeli official as Trump insists it's 'possible'

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, centerm arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review his arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul, South Korea Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korea's ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol rearrested

President Donald Trump speaks during a lunch with African leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump and IDF chief signal possible Gaza ceasefire within days

Images of a fireball exploding on a cargo ship are shown on a giant screen during a protest called for by Yemen's rebel Huthi movement in Sanaa on March 17, 2025.

Survivor search ongoing as Houthis sink second Red Sea cargo ship in a week

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-GAZA

40 Palestinians, including 10 children, killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza - as mediators race to sign ceasefire deal

The exterior of Orio al Serio International Airport

Plane passengers told 'don't look out windows' after man sucked into engine

Republic presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a press conference on the 9th hole tee, with his family members Don, Eric and Ivanka, at his Trump Turnberry Golf Course, in Turnberry, Scotland, on 24 June 2016.

Plans being drawn up for potential Donald Trump visit to Scotland in 'coming weeks'

The woman was hit on Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, in Beaune, France

British woman, 35, is run down and killed in front of her husband while out jogging in France

Russia hit Ukraine with over 700 drones overnight. Picture: Alamy

Russia launches largest drone attack on Ukraine since start of full-scale invasion

Builder, 35, revealed as trespasser sucked into jet engine at Milan airport

Builder, 35, revealed as trespasser sucked into jet engine at Milan airport