Student stabs 7 in Cheongju -- school safety back in focus

A high school student in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, went on a stabbing rampage early Monday morning, injuring multiple school staff members and civilians before being apprehended, according to local authorities.

The incident began at approximately 8:33 a.m. at a high school in Heungdeok-gu, when an 18-year-old second-year student attacked a special education teacher during a counseling session.

According to police and the Chungbuk Office of Education, the student, who had been designated as a special education recipient but was enrolled in a regular class, began by strangling the teacher. As the teacher evacuated through a hallway, the student chased the teacher into the hallway and attacked with what appeared to be a utility knife.

The student then turned the knife on the school principal and two other staff members. All three sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospitals in Cheongju and Cheonan. Authorities said they are receiving treatment but are not in a life-threatening condition.

After the attack at the school, the student fled the premises and continued to attack civilians in the vicinity.

One victim, who was in a parked car with two children, received an injury to the face when the student suddenly attacked after knocking on the car window. The suspect also scuffled with two more civilians near a kindergarten, causing minor injuries.

The suspect was eventually apprehended after jumping into a nearby reservoir. Police conducted an emergency rescue operation and took the student into custody at the scene.

The suspect reportedly had multiple knives in possession, with police securing four bladed weapons from the student's belongings. Authorities are investigating whether the attack was premeditated.

According to local media, parents, alarmed by the news, rushed to the school or contacted staff to confirm their children's safety. The school temporarily restricted access to outsiders and issued text message alerts reassuring families that students were unharmed. Despite the incident, school officials said academic schedules, including midterm exams, would continue as planned.

In response to the incident, Yoon Kun-young, superintendent of the North Chungcheong Province Office of Education, held an emergency press conference, vowing swift action to restore safety at schools.

"We take this matter extremely seriously and offer our deepest sympathies to the victims," Yoon said. "The Office of Education will conduct a comprehensive review of safety measures within schools."

Yoon announced that the authorities are considering installing emergency bells in classrooms and implementing other enhanced safety measures. "We will do our utmost to create safe schools and a trustworthy educational community," he said.

Support measures for the victims are also underway. "We plan to assist with compensation procedures, legal consultations and facilitating the return of injured staff to work," Yoon explained, adding that the office would work closely with all relevant departments and professional agencies to develop preventive strategies.

Police have formally booked the suspect on attempted murder charges and are working closely with the education authorities to investigate the motive and circumstances behind the attack.