A tragic incident unfolded at an elementary school in Daejeon, South Korea, where an eight-year-old student was fatally stabbed by her teacher. Authorities reported that the teacher, a woman in her 40s, confessed to the crime after both she and the child were found with stab wounds on Monday evening.

The young girl was rushed to the hospital in an unconscious state but later succumbed to her injuries. The teacher, who sustained stab wounds on her neck and arm—suspected to be self-inflicted—was taken into surgery.

According to reports, the teacher had previously taken a leave of absence due to depression and had only returned to work late last year. The student had been attending an after-school childcare program before she was scheduled to go to a private art class. When she failed to arrive, her parents reported her missing, leading police to discover both the teacher and the student at the school around 6:00 PM (0900 GMT).

Authorities plan to resume questioning the teacher once she recovers from surgery.

South Korea, known for its low crime rate, recorded a murder rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2021, significantly lower than the global average of six per 100,000. However, a rise in violent crimes, including several high-profile stabbing incidents in 2023, has raised concerns. Notable cases include an attack on a high school teacher in Daejeon, a car-ramming and stabbing spree in Bundang, and a fatal stabbing in Seoul.

Investigations into the latest tragedy are ongoing as authorities seek to determine the motive behind the shocking attack.