Child Abuse Charges For South Korean Teacher Who Killed, Ate Hamster In Front Of Class

A 44-year-old male South Korean teacher is facing child abuse charges after he killed and ate a hamster in front of his class on May 11. The teacher, surnamed Yu, did it to express anger at his students because some of them were teasing the animals.

He claimed the act aimed to teach the pupils at the Jeongup boarding school in North Jeolla Province the value of life, reports Korean Times. He also admits to fear of rodents.

Seven students witnessed the gory incident wherein Yu also allegedly used abusive language, reports Metro. He reportedly swallowed the hamster. The rodents are popular family pets and laboratory animals used in schools and pharmaceutical companies to test drugs.

The parents of the students, who were shocked by Yu’s action, filed a complaint against the teacher with the Jeongup Police Station. The teacher, who admitted failing to control the situation, eventually said sorry to his students, their parents and other teachers.

“While watching the hamsters die from teasing, I thought I should teach the children it was wrong to make light of life,” Yonhap News quotes Yu. Metro reports that Yu had resigned from the school after the incident.

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