The South Korean Ministry of Justice is intensifying efforts to establish a new 'Corrections Agency' aimed at enhancing the professionalism and independence of correctional administration.
On August 28, the ministry held the 'First National Forum on the Establishment of the Corrections Agency' at the Jincheon Justice Training Institute, attended by representatives from various correctional institutions across the country. The forum was organized to share the intent of a partial amendment to the Government Organization Law proposed in March and to gather firsthand insights from the field. Following a report from the Corrections Future Innovation Team, participants engaged in open discussions about working conditions and organizational restructuring.
Attendees highlighted that chronic shortages of personnel and budget, along with increasing incidents within facilities and overcrowding, have hindered the core functions of correction and rehabilitation. There was a consensus that urgent organizational restructuring in the form of an independent agency is necessary to address these fundamental issues and create a safer society that the public can feel.
Based on the suggestions from the field, the Ministry of Justice plans to enhance the effectiveness of the organizational restructuring proposal and continue national forums in October and December. Notably, on September 10, the ministry will co-host a forum with the offices of Democratic Party lawmakers Chae Hyun-il and Kang Deuk-gu at the National Assembly to promote diverse public discourse and actively work towards building social consensus for the passage of the bill.
A ministry official stated, "The Ministry of Justice will continue to collaborate with the National Assembly and relevant agencies to ensure the smooth passage of the Government Organization Law amendment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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