A South Korean court has sentenced a teacher to life in prison for fatally stabbing an eight-year-old girl, in a case that shocked the nation.
Myeong Jae-wan, 48, killed Kim Hae-neul, after luring her into a classroom in the central city of Daejeon in February.
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Myeong, saying that the victim's family had asked for a harsh punishment.
But the court said that while the risk of reoffending is high, it is difficult to conclude that Myeong must be executed.
Myeong stated that she would reflect on her mistakes for the rest of her life. She expressed how her judgment had weakened at the time of the stabbing as she was undergoing mental health treatment.
Despite showing no remorse during the investigation, Myeong later submitted letters to the court expressing remorse.
This case followed a period when Myeong had requested a six-month leave of absence due to depression but returned to work just 20 days later after being deemed fit by a doctor.
Myeong had displayed violent behavior before the incident, including putting another teacher in a headlock. On the day of the stabbing, two education officials had visited the school to investigate past altercations.
She later admitted to police that she had purchased a weapon the day of the attack with the intent of killing herself and a child, having lured Kim into the media room to carry out her plan.
Kim was reported missing after not being picked up by a bus driver, and authorities found her with stab wounds together with Myeong later that day.
Both had wounds, with Myeong sustaining a neck injury that police suggested was self-inflicted.
South Korea's leaders have since called for increased safety measures in schools to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Myeong will also wear an electronic location tracking device for 30 years following her release.
The court emphasized the betrayal of trust, stating, As an elementary school teacher, the accused was in a position to protect the victim. But she committed this brutal crime in which a child was not protected where they should be most safe.
