Daejeon: 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.

According to BBC, prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Myeong, stating that the victim's family had asked for a harsh punishment. Prosecutors mentioned that Myeong showed no remorse while the case was being investigated. However, Myeong submitted dozens of letters to the court expressing remorse.

Myeong had previously requested a six-month leave of absence, citing depression, but returned to school in 20 days after a doctor assessed her as being fit to work, the Daejeon education office said in February. She had displayed violent behavior in the days before the stabbing, including putting another teacher in a headlock, the education office noted.

On the morning of the stabbing, two education officials had visited the school to investigate the earlier altercation. Myeong told police that she had bought a weapon on the day of the attack and brought it to school, planning to kill herself along with a random child. She also informed the police that she had lured Kim into the media room before attacking her.

Kim was reported missing after a bus driver informed the school that she had not arrived to be picked up that day. She was found in school later that day with stab wounds, along with Myeong. Myeong also had a wound on her neck, which police said might have been self-inflicted and was stitched up later in the hospital.

South Korea's leaders at the time called for safety measures to ensure such incidents never happen again. Myeong has also been ordered to wear an electronic location tracking device for 30 years. The court's verdict stated, "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."