Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho announced on June 21 that he conducted a third on-site assessment of correctional facilities at Cheongju Women's Prison, the largest women's correctional facility in South Korea, on June 17 with a group of legal reporters.
This visit was organized to enhance public understanding and consensus on correctional administration by directly reflecting the voices from the field into policy development. Previously, Jeong had visited Hwaseong Vocational Training Prison and Anyang Prison to inspect facilities and address correctional administration challenges.
The focus of this prison assessment was to evaluate tailored correctional and rehabilitation policies for female inmates. The prison is currently experiencing severe overcrowding, with an occupancy rate of about 120%, leading to significant operational burdens and staff shortages. Cheongju Women's Prison has been operating since its establishment in 1989 and moved to its current location in 2003, emphasizing treatment and rehabilitation programs that cater to the characteristics of female inmates.
During the visit, Jeong and the 34 reporters toured the housing units and workshops, observing vocational training programs in floral design, hairdressing, cooking, and baking aimed at assisting inmates' reintegration into society. They also visited the newly established Drug Offender Rehabilitation Division to assess the progress of addiction rehabilitation programs, which have become a key issue in the correctional field.
Additionally, considering the unique nature of the women's facility, they reviewed the implementation of maternal protection programs, including family love camps and caregiving visits. The group carefully examined the health and hygiene management of inmates to identify specific policy needs. The accompanying reporters had the opportunity to wear inmate uniforms and experience daily routines, including admission procedures, living conditions, meals, and exercise.
The reporters witnessed firsthand the reality of overcrowding, with nine inmates living in a space designed for five, resulting in an occupancy rate nearing 180%. This experience underscored the urgent need to address overcrowding as a critical issue for improving correctional environments. Poor living conditions have been cited as a source of conflict among inmates and an increased burden on correctional staff.
After the assessment, Minister Jeong emphasized, "The ultimate goal of correctional facilities is not merely isolation and confinement, but to create thorough rehabilitation conditions that prevent recidivism and ultimately ensure public safety." He added, "We will strengthen treatment and rehabilitation programs tailored to the physical and psychological characteristics of female inmates, and through effective drug addiction rehabilitation and support for social reintegration, we aim to create a safe society that the public can truly feel."
Jeong also expressed his appreciation for the hard work of correctional staff and reiterated his commitment to improving their working conditions. He declared, "We will make 2026 the year of correctional reform in South Korea," pledging to prioritize addressing overcrowding and improving working conditions while vigorously pursuing comprehensive correctional policy innovations centered on treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
The Ministry of Justice plans to develop specific implementation measures for expanding correctional facilities and increasing personnel based on the feedback gathered from this on-site assessment and the reporters' insights.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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