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SCMP’s Asia desk

A high school student in South Korea stabbed seven people in a shocking attack that has raised fresh concerns over school safety and mental health management.
The incident unfolded on Monday morning at around 8.33am at a high school in Cheongju, a city in North Chungcheong province located about 110km southeast of Seoul.
According to The Korea Herald, the 18-year-old attacker – a second-year student – was in a counselling session with a special-education teacher when he suddenly began strangling the educator.
He then chased the teacher into the hallway and allegedly began slashing at other staff members with what appeared to be a utility knife.
The school’s principal and two staff members were left with stab wounds to the chest, abdomen and back, and were transferred to hospitals for treatment.

The counsellor was also hospitalised due to shock and breathing difficulties.
At least three others sustained injuries, including a 43-year-old passer-by, surnamed Im, who was dropping his two children off at a kindergarten near the school.
Im was stuck in traffic when the student ran up to his car and tapped on the rear window, JoongAng Daily reported.
“I rolled the window down to see what was happening. The student stared at me for a second or two without saying anything, then suddenly stabbed my face and ran away,” Im said. “I got out of the car and saw the student struggling with other parents about 15 metres away.”
The student fled the scene and made his way to a nearby park, where he jumped into a reservoir. Police rescued him and took him to a hospital before arresting him.
None of the injuries sustained in the attack – including those of the suspect – were life-threatening.
Authorities are investigating the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack.
The Korea Times reported that the student has borderline intellectual functioning. He had previously been enrolled in a special education class for disabled students but was transferred to a general class this year following an apparent improvement in his condition.
Three other types of weapons were found in his bag, in addition to the knife used in the attack.
Yoon Geon-young, superintendent of the North Chungcheong Provincial Office of Education, visited the school shortly after and apologised for the incident.


He confirmed that all other students were safe and that a countermeasure response team would be formed to ensure student well-being and support the victims’ recovery.
“We will analyse and review the cause and circumstances of the incident to come up with measures to prevent recurrences,” Yoon said.
The attack comes amid mounting concern in South Korea over violent incidents at schools.
In August 2023, a high school teacher in Daejeon was stabbed multiple times by an intruder who entered the campus before fleeing.
In February, an elementary school in the same city was the site of a fatal stabbing, when a teacher attacked and killed an eight-year-old student. The teacher, who had recently returned from medical leave for depression, later admitted to the crime.
These incidents have intensified calls for stronger mental health screening and support systems for educators, as well as enhanced security measures to better protect students and staff at educational institutions nationwide.


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Police are investigating the motive behind the shocking attack that injured educators, staff and a parent


Police are investigating the motive behind the shocking attack that injured educators, staff and a parent.


Crime

Mental health