Students Fall Ill After Eating Chocolates Distributed by Woman Near Incheon Elementary School

In Incheon, South Korea, police have launched an investigation after seven elementary school students reported feeling nauseous and dizzy after consuming chocolates handed out by a woman in her 40s. The incident occurred around 8 AM on December 16, 2024, near a school in the Nonhyeon-dong area of Namdong-gu. The affected students, who are in grades 3 to 6, were sent home early and have since shown improvement after receiving medical attention. The school nurse alerted authorities after noticing the students' symptoms. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and student testimonies, suggesting that the woman may have distributed the chocolates for missionary and church promotion purposes. The police have secured the chocolates for analysis at the National Forensic Service, while health authorities are testing for foodborne pathogens. Reports indicate that the chocolates were commercially available and individually vacuum-sealed. Authorities confirmed that the chocolates were not past their expiration date and will determine the investigation's direction based on the forensic results.