Korean Teacher Laughs After Stabbing 8 Yr-Old Student To Death Because “I Want To Die With Someone”
The Rotten Mango podcast takes an in-depth look at a chilling murder case in South Korea involving an 8-year-old victim and her teacher. It examines the disturbing details of the crime, the investigation aided by a controversial parenting app, and the subsequent public reactions to the victim's father and the proposed "Haner Law" addressing teacher mental health evaluations.
The blurb explores the complexities surrounding the case, including debates over child safety versus privacy, criticism of the father's behavior, and concerns that the proposed law could infringe on teachers' rights. This episode presents a nuanced exploration of a tragic event, probing societal issues arising from the case.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Mar 30, 2025 episode of the Rotten Mango
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1-Page Summary
The Murder of Haner and the Investigation
The Murder
On February 10th, 2025, 8-year-old Haner went missing from aftercare class at her elementary school in South Korea. She was later found murdered, having been stabbed multiple times by a 48-year-old teacher named Chae Hwan Myung.
The Investigation
As Stephanie Soo explains, Haner's father listened via a parenting app as Myung searched through Haner's belongings. Myung admitted wanting to kill a child to avoid dying alone, saying she picked Haner as an easy target.
Role of Technology in the Case
The Parenting App
The controversial app used by Haner's father allowed tracking her location, listening to conversations, and remotely controlling her phone. While crucial to the investigation, critics view it as an invasion of privacy.
Balancing Safety and Privacy
South Korean parents defend their use of such surveillance apps to protect young, independent children. However, others argue this violates reasonable privacy expectations. Experts debate whether this level of monitoring is more necessary in South Korea than the U.S.
The Reactions to Haner's Father
Criticism of Online Activity and Parenting
As Soo notes, netizens scrutinized Haner's father's old inappropriate online comments and accused him of prioritizing fame over grieving his daughter properly.
Perceived Inappropriate Behavior
Netizens criticized Haner's father's demands of media, perceived inappropriate demeanor in interviews, and focus on aspects like providing meals for reporters.
Proposed "Haner Law"
Addressing Teachers' Mental Health
Named after Haner, the proposed law intends to mandate psychological evaluations and leave for mentally struggling teachers to prevent incidents like Haner's murder by Myung.
Concerns Over Privacy and Misuse
However, critics argue the law could infringe on teachers' privacy, jeopardize job security, worsen student-teacher power imbalances, and stigmatize mental health issues.
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Actionables
- You can enhance your family's safety by setting clear boundaries and rules for the use of tracking apps, ensuring everyone understands when and how their location may be shared. For example, agree to use location-sharing features only during specific times or in case of emergencies, and have open discussions about the reasons and ethics behind these tools.
- Engage in community discussions or online forums to share and learn about the balance between safety and privacy, especially in the context of child protection. This could involve starting a conversation on a local community Facebook group to gauge different perspectives and experiences, which can inform your own decisions regarding privacy and safety.
- Advocate for mental health awareness without stigma by organizing informal peer support groups or book clubs that focus on understanding mental health. This could be as simple as meeting with friends to discuss literature on mental health, sharing experiences, and promoting a culture of openness and support without judgment.
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The Murder of Haner and the Investigation
The brutal murder of an eight-year-old girl named Haner and the ensuing investigation reveal a shocking and tragic tale of violence within an educational setting in South Korea.
The Details of Haner's Disappearance and Death
Haner, 8, Missing From School, Prompting South Korea Search
Han-il, also referred to as Haner, went missing from her elementary school aftercare class on February 10th, 2025. After being signed out by an adult, the eight-year-old was instructed to walk down to the entry to meet her after-school academy teacher. However, Haner never reached the front desk, prompting an alert and search throughout the school. Notably, Haner’s outdoor shoes were left behind, indicating she did not leave voluntarily but was still in her indoor slippers.
Grandmother Finds Haner's Body In Closet, Fatally Stabbed by 48-year-Old Teacher Chae Hwan Myung
Haner's body was discovered one and a half hours after her disappearance by her grandmother, who was searching the school. In a locked audio-video room, Grandma Kim found Haner and the middle-aged teacher, Chae Hwan Myung, both covered in blood. Haner had been stabbed multiple times. Myung, identified as a 48-year-old teacher at Haner's school, lured the child into the audio-video room, where she then stabbed and strangled Haner to death.
The Investigation Process and Myung's Confession
Father Hears Heavy Breathing and Searching, Indicating Myung Is With Haner
Haner's father, using a parenting app, heard heavy breathing and sounds of someone frantically searching on the other end of the line, raising suspicion that Haner could be with an adult. For an hour, he listened to someone go through Haner's belongings before eventually recognizing his mother's voice, indicating she had found something in connection to Haner's disappearance.
Later, Haner's father arrived at the school to find that his daughter had been stabbed to death by Chae Hwan Myung, who had become covered in Haner's blood.
Myung Confessed: She Wanted to ...
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The Murder of Haner and the Investigation
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Actionables
- You can enhance child safety by setting up a daily check-in system with your child's school. Establish a protocol where the school sends a confirmation message when your child arrives and leaves, providing an additional layer of security and peace of mind.
- Improve your awareness of online purchasing patterns by using a browser extension that alerts you to sudden changes in search behavior. For instance, if there's an abrupt interest in items that could be used harmfully, the extension could notify you to investigate further, potentially preventing dangerous situations.
- Encourage open communication with famil ...
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Role of Technology in the Case
A noteworthy aspect of the case is the controversial use of a parenting app that played a pivotal role in the investigation conducted by Haner's father, highlighting both its utility and the privacy concerns it raises.
Controversial App That Monitored Haner's Location and Activities
Haner's father utilized a parenting app that he had stealthily installed on Haner's phone, allowing him to monitor her movements and surroundings without her knowledge.
App Lets Parents Track Locations, Listen To Conversations, and Control Phones Remotely
The app in question boasts a host of surveillance features that have drawn both fascination and criticism. It can track the live location of the user, including a 24-hour history of places the phone has been. Additionally, an alarm can be sounded on the phone that bypasses any silencing features. Keeping tabs on app usage is also a feature, detailing the time spent on each one. Particularly intrusive is the "sound around" feature, which lets the account holder listen to the sounds picked up by the phone's microphone remotely, in real-time.
App Crucial in Haner's Father's Investigation, Seen As Privacy Invasion
The app turned out to be crucial in the investigation of Haner's father, as he was able to track Haner to the vicinity of her school and listen in real-time to the ambient sounds around her phone, leading him to deduce she was in the company of an adult due to the sound of heavy breathing. This detective work benefitted from the app's features, such as the ability to remotely trigger an alert. Myung, in response to the alert, was heard through the app unzipping Haner's backpack to silence it.
The Ethical Implications of the Parenting App
The use of such comprehensive monitoring technologies has sparked heated debate over the balance between safeguarding children and respecting their privacy.
Parenting App Usage in South Korea Sparks Balance and Privacy Concerns
While parents in South Korea began downloading the app en masse in February 2025, the ethical implic ...
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Role of Technology in the Case
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Counterarguments
- The app's use without Haner's knowledge raises questions about consent and the age at which children should have a say in their privacy.
- The effectiveness of such apps in actually preventing harm to children could be questioned, as they may provide a false sense of security to parents.
- There may be less intrusive methods of ensuring a child's safety that do not involve constant surveillance, such as education on personal safety and open communication.
- The app's features could potentially be misused by individuals other than parents, such as hackers or abusive partners, leading to unintended privacy breaches.
- The reliance on technology for parenting may undermine the development of trust and communication between parents and children.
- The cultural acceptance of such apps in South Korea may not justify their use, as it could reflect societal pressures rather than individual choice.
- The term "sta ...
Actionables
- You can initiate a family discussion on digital privacy to establish boundaries and expectations, where each member, including children, can express their comfort levels and concerns about location tracking and phone monitoring. This conversation could lead to a family agreement on when and how such tools should be used, ensuring that everyone's privacy is respected while maintaining safety.
- Develop a personal policy for technology use that respects the privacy of others, especially if you have children or younger family members. Decide on guidelines for yourself about when it would be appropriate to use monitoring tools and under what circumstances you would avoid them, considering the ethical implications of su ...
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The Reactions and Criticisms Towards Haner's Father
Stephanie Soo and South Korean netizens have voiced a range of reactions and criticisms of Haner's father following his daughter's death, scrutinizing his online activity, parenting, and behavior during the aftermath.
Scrutiny of Haner's Father's Online Activity and Parenting
Old Comments by Haner's Father Criticize Him For Inappropriate Remarks
Stephanie Soo discusses how some Korean netizens have begun to criticize Haner's father, Kim, by digging into his old posts on gaming forums, which many women would find inappropriate. For example, netizens found a comment he made equating breast sizes to fruit, stating, "my girlfriend is a grapefruit."
Haner's Father Accused Of Prioritizing Fame Over Grieving Daughter
Netizens have characterized Haner's father as someone who enjoys being famous rather than truly grieving. They've speculated that he appeared excited about the media attention. An anonymous accusation claimed he borrowed money to donate to a female streamer, suggesting neglect of his parental responsibilities. Netizens were upset by a statement in which he referred to his daughter's case as the "biggest issue in Korea," considering other significant political events. They also criticized him for seeming to seek fame, misinterpreting a statement he made about his daughter not becoming a "star."
Haner's Father's Behavior and Demands During and After Investigation
Father's Media Requests Perceived As Inappropriate or Demanding
After Haner's death, her father conducted press interviews, drawing criticism from some netizens who disapproved of his tone and word choice. Kim requested certain words be used at the end of articles and demanded a 10-second national silence, which caused annoyance among netizens who found him demanding. When his requests were not followed, he explicitly criticized journalists for not including his requested phrase, "Han-il, we love you, Han-il, we're sorry."
Father's Demeanor in Interviews Criticized by Some Netizens As Not Aligning With Grieving Parent Expectations
Netizens criticized Kim for acting more like a third party than a bereaved family member during a press conference, telling heroic tales, and seemed more focused on providing meals for reporters and making demands to officials rath ...
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The Reactions and Criticisms Towards Haner's Father
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Clarifications
- Stephanie Soo is a popular YouTuber known for her mukbang videos and commentary on various topics. She has a significant following and is influential in online communities, particularly among younger audiences. Soo's opinions and perspectives can carry weight in discussions and controversies, contributing to shaping public opinion on certain issues. In this context, her involvement in discussing Haner's father adds a layer of visibility and credibility to the criticisms being raised.
- Haner's father, Kim, faced criticism for his past online comments on gaming forums that some found inappropriate. Netizens highlighted a comment where he compared breast sizes to fruit, mentioning his girlfriend as a grapefruit. These remarks were scrutinized by Stephanie Soo and South Korean netizens following Haner's death.
- Haner's father faced accusations of prioritizing fame over grieving his daughter due to perceived excitement about media attention, borrowing money to donate to a streamer, and making statements that some interpreted as seeking fame rather than focusing on mourning his daughter's death. These actions led some to question his sincerity in grieving and raised concerns about his priorities during the aftermath of the tragedy.
- Haner's father's behavior during the investigation was criticized for his demeanor in interviews, which some felt did not align with expectations of a grieving parent. He was seen making demands during press conferences and focusing on providing meals for reporters rather than honoring his daughter. Some netizens perceived his requests as attempts to receive VIP treatment and criticized him for not seeking justice for Haner. Additionally, his behavior at the press conference was considered too light, especially when instructing reporters to eat the meals prepared for them.
- Haner's father made demands such as requesting specific words be used in articles and asking for a national silence, which some found inappropriate or demanding. These demands were perceived as not aligning with typical expectations of a grieving parent's behavior. The requests for media coverage and specific actions during the investigation drew criticism from some netizens for being self-centered and not focusing on honoring his daughter. The demands made by Haner's father were seen as controversial and raised questions about his priorities and behavior in the aftermath of his daughter's death.
- Haner's father faced criticism for his demeanor in interviews after his daughter's death. Some netizens felt he acted more like a third party than a grieving parent, focusing on providing meals for reporters and making demands rather than honoring his daughter. They found his behavior at the press conference too light and criticized him for calling out all Koreans for not paying condolences instead of seeking justice for Haner. Netizens described his requests as attempts to receive VIP treatment and entitlement, which they viewed as inappropriate given the c ...
Counterarguments
- Haner's father's past online comments may have been made in a different context and do not necessarily reflect his current state of mind or his ability to grieve.
- The accusation of prioritizing fame could be a misinterpretation of his coping mechanism or his way of raising awareness about his daughter's case.
- Media requests and demands might be his way of ensuring his daughter's story is told respectfully and remembered, rather than seeking attention for himself.
- His demeanor in interviews could be a result of shock or a personal way of handling grief, which can manifest in various ways that do not always align with public expectations.
- Public support for Haner's father suggest ...
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Proposed Legislative Reform ("Haner Law") and Implications
The Haner Law, named and proposed in response to a tragic incident involving a teacher, raises questions and concerns about job security, privacy, and the potential stigmatization of mental health issues among educators.
Haner Law: Addressing Teachers' Mental Health Issues
The Haner Law is a legislative proposal seeking to mandate psychological evaluations and leave for teachers with mental health issues to prevent incidents like the one that took Haner's life. Mrs. Myung's case, a teacher who had been struggling with severe depression and returned to work after just 20 days instead of her recommended six-month leave, highlights the need for such legislation.
Law Mandates Evaluations, Leave For Teachers With Mental Health Issues to Prevent Incidents Like Haner's Murder
The law intends to establish a system where teachers will be required to take necessary treatment and be cleared to continue teaching. Additionally, it proposes mandatory leave for educators struggling with mental health issues, aiming to protect both the workforce and students. This includes stipulations like hand-to-hand pickups for afterschool program students, which the deputy prime minister supports, emphasizing measures to confirm the possibility of normal work upon a teacher's reinstatement.
Law Aimed to Protect Teachers and Students Criticized For Infringing On Privacy and Job Security
Despite its protective intent, the Haner Law faces criticism for potentially infringing on teachers' privacy and jeopardizing their job security. Critics argue that intertwining mental health too closely with working ability could exacerbate mental health issues. Furthermore, the law could lead to job loss if teachers are forced into mandatory leave or if students and parents misuse the law to report them, sparking concerns over fairness and power imbalances.
Concerns About Implementation and Abuse of Haner Law
Some fear the legislation could be misused, particularly in societies where students hold more authority over teachers. The law's potential for abuse by "brat spoiled bully kids" – as noted by critics – points to a serious worry over worsening power dynamics within educational systems and the ability of teachers to educate effectively without ...
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Proposed Legislative Reform ("Haner Law") and Implications
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Counterarguments
- The Haner Law could lead to a more proactive approach in addressing mental health issues among teachers, potentially improving overall well-being and job performance.
- Psychological evaluations, if implemented with confidentiality and consent, may not necessarily infringe on privacy but could serve as a preventive measure for both teachers and students.
- Mandatory leave, if coupled with job protection and financial support, might not jeopardize job security but rather ensure that teachers are well enough to perform their duties effectively.
- The law could include safeguards to prevent misuse, such as a clear and fair reporting system, oversight mechanisms, and consequences for false accusations.
- Proper implementation of the Haner Law might improve the educational environment by ensuring that teachers are men ...
Actionables
- You can foster a supportive environment by starting a peer support group at your workplace for discussing mental health challenges without judgment. This initiative could provide a safe space for colleagues to share their experiences and coping strategies, potentially reducing the stigma around mental health and encouraging those who might be struggling to seek professional help.
- Encourage transparency and fairness by advocating for clear guidelines on how mental health evaluations are conducted and used in your organization. This could involve suggesting the creation of a committee that includes representatives from the staff to oversee the process, ensuring that it's applied consistently and protects individuals' rights.
- Promote mental health ...
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