Appeals court rejects death penalty request and mental incapacity claims, citing deliberate planning and gravity of crime
A South Korean appellate court has affirmed a life sentence for a former elementary school teacher found guilty of killing a young pupil at her school in Daejeon. The Daejeon High Court on Friday rejected appeals from both the prosecution and the defendant, leaving the original verdict intact and upholding a separate order requiring electronic location monitoring for 30 years.
The court reaffirmed the conviction of Myeong Jae-wan, 49, who was found guilty of fatally stabbing a seven-year-old first-grade student. Judges ruled that the crime fell under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, including murder involving kidnapping, and said the original sentence accurately reflected the seriousness of the offense.
Appeals rejected by both sides
During the final appellate hearing on Dec. 17, 2025, prosecutors again sought the death penalty, repeating their position from the first trial. The court rejected the request, stating that the prosecution’s arguments had already been fully examined and that no new circumstances had emerged to justify harsher punishment.
The defense’s appeal was also dismissed. The court said claims of diminished mental capacity had been carefully reviewed during the initial trial and did not warrant a reduced sentence. Judges emphasized that sentencing decisions must be based on legal standards and evidence rather than sympathy.
In its ruling, the court said the defendant’s actions showed clear intent and awareness. These included selecting the victim, preparing the weapon in advance, and attempting to avoid detection after the killing. Such behavior, the judges said, demonstrated the ability to distinguish right from wrong and to control one’s actions.
Although medical evaluations confirmed that Myeong suffered from mental illnesses at the time, the court concluded her cognitive abilities were not significantly impaired. Even if emotional or psychological difficulties existed, the court said they could not outweigh the gravity of the crime.
Why the death penalty was denied
Addressing the prosecution’s call for capital punishment, the court said the death penalty is an exceptional measure that permanently deprives an individual of life. It noted that the first trial had instead chosen to permanently isolate the defendant from society through life imprisonment, allowing for lifelong reflection and remorse.
The appellate judges said this approach did not fall outside the bounds of reasonable sentencing, particularly given South Korea’s cautious and limited application of capital punishment in recent decades.
Myeong was convicted of luring seven-year-old Kim Ha-neul into an audiovisual room at the elementary school where she worked on Feb. 10, 2025. Prosecutors said she used the pretense of giving the child a book before stabbing her with a weapon she had prepared in advance as the girl was leaving an after-school care program.
After the incident, Myeong inflicted injuries on her own neck and arm and later confessed to the crime while receiving emergency medical treatment, according to investigators.
Broader implications
Investigators said Myeong had been suffering from depression and facing difficulties at work and home. She had also assaulted a colleague several days before the killing, an incident that later became part of the case record. Police suggested the crime may have been driven by suppressed anger directed toward others and herself.
The court acknowledged these circumstances but said they did not excuse the crime or reduce criminal responsibility, given the evidence of planning and intent.
In the initial trial, the court described the case as unprecedented, citing the nationwide shock caused by the killing of a young student by her own teacher inside a school. The appellate court’s decision to uphold both the life sentence and the long-term electronic monitoring order reinforces the judiciary’s emphasis on public safety and accountability.
The case has also reignited debate in South Korea over mental health screening, support systems, and oversight for educators. While the ruling brings legal closure, questions remain about how institutions can better identify and address risks before tragedies occur.
