Mourners look at a makeshift memorial set up at the fence of an elementary school in Daejeon, Tuesday, where a 7-year-old student was killed the day before. Yonhap

After the tragic death of a 7-year-old at an elementary school in Daejeon, concerns over school safety are mounting, particularly among parents of young children.

After Kim Ha-neul was fatally stabbed by a schoolteacher on Monday, concerns have been raised about security vulnerabilities, especially during after-school hours when students are not under direct supervision. This exposes a critical blind spot in current school safety measures.

"I can't believe such a tragedy happened at a school, and at the hands of a teacher. Parents trust schools as one of the safest places for their children," said a 42-year-old woman surnamed Ahn, whose son is a second-grader.

She pointed out that many working parents rely on after-school programs, trusting schools and teachers as caregivers for their children.

"I'm even considering taking a break from work so I can personally pick up my child from school every day for a while," she added.

"I'm deeply concerned that there could be another incident of crime or abuse involving teachers with mental health issues," said a mother in her 50s in Daejeon, whose child is in the sixth grade.

Kim was accosted as she was making her way down to the first floor from a classroom for an after-school program on the second floor, heading to a van that had arrived to transport her to an art lesson at a private academy.

The case has raised questions about why the young student left the school building without a teacher's supervision.

Chung Ick-joong, a professor of social welfare at Ewha Womans University, pointed out a lack of clear and detailed regulations ensuring students' safety when leaving school.

"There can be risks when there is a gap in guidance and child care, as seen in this recent case," he said.

"Safety protocols require students to be handed over directly to their parents or guardians, but the problem is that this is not being enforced properly," he added.

Chung emphasized that the education sector and the government need to find ways to strengthen these measures.

Elementary school students participate in an art class as part of an after-school program at Yongam Elementary School in Seoul, Aug. 27. Korea Times file

After-school programs are an initiative of the Ministry of Education, launched in 2023 as part of efforts to address the country's low birthrate. Through this program, elementary schools provide a range of educational activities and child care services after school hours to elementary school students who need such services, mostly because both parents are working.

According to the ministry's guidelines for after-school care operations this year, all participating students are required to be accompanied by a guardian when returning home. If a guardian is unavailable, an adult representative must be designated in advance to accompany the student.

However, the enforcement of these rules varies by school.

Most schools ensure students are handed over directly to guardians after 5 p.m. and prohibit them from leaving alone. However, during earlier hours — when students leave at different times — schools allow them to return home independently if parents give their consent in advance.

The lack of strict guidance is due primarily to staffing constraints.

Teachers managing after-school care programs are often unable to leave the classroom while overseeing multiple students, and there is a shortage of dedicated personnel for these programs.

As of August last year, there were 9,104 staffers assigned to after-school care nationwide, averaging just 1.4 per school, according to the education ministry. This shortage makes it difficult to ensure that each student is personally handed over to a guardian.

With the government planning to expand these programs further, addressing the shortage of dedicated educators will be crucial.