A teacher in South Korea is said to have killed and eaten a hamster in front of his horrified students. The incident reportedly happened at a boarding school in the city of Jeongeup in the country's North Jeolla Province a little over a week ago, on May 11.

The teacher has since apologized for his actions. It is unclear whether or not, following this incident, he will be fired or will instead be allowed to go on teaching.

Since a complaint was filed against him by the students' parents shortly after news of the hamster's brutal murder emerged, there is little doubt that the 44-year-old teacher faces disciplinary action. Just how strict his superiors plan to be remains to be seen.

The man only wanted to teach his students an important life lesson

The 44-year-old boarding school teacher, identified only as Yu, insists that he killed and ate the hamster as his students stared at him flushed and horrified because he wanted to prove to them the value of life.

Apparently, the students were teasing the rodent and refusing to behave. Rather than see the hamster get killed by his overly enthusiastic pupils, the teacher decided to assassinate it himself and so simply bit the rodent to death.

“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,” the 44-year-old man explained his behavior.

This lesson wasn't the most successful in the history of teaching

It is understood that, apart from snacking on the defenseless rodent in front of his students, this boarding school teacher went off on a rant and let out a few words and phrases that have no business in classrooms.

Hence, the students' parents are now accusing him of abusive behavior and insist that the police get involved and sanction him for having traumatized their offspring, NY Daily News informs. Simply put, they want him charged with child abuse.