A teacher in rural South Korea is under investigation after he reportedly killed a live rodent in front of children and then ate it.
After observing the youngsters hurting hamsters, the man, 44, did so in order to teach them “how dear life is,” according to a report in the Korea Times.
He is identified only as “Yu” in media reports.
After the incident, which took place at a boarding school in Jeongeup on May 11, Yu also allegedly used “abusive language,” but left the facility when other teachers learned of his actions. Parents claim that their children were asked not to discuss what happened.
Yu, charged with “child abuse,” told Yonhap News Agency that he was bitten by a rat as a youngster and fears them, and has apologized for eating the hamster: “I couldn’t control the situation and couldn’t stand it. While watching the hamsters die from teasing, I thought I should teach the children it was wrong to make light of life.”