Ministry of Justice Suspends All Visits at Correctional Facilities and Juvenile Centers Nationwide... Smart App Visits Remain Available

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly spreads nationwide, the Ministry of Justice has decided to completely suspend visitations at correctional facilities and juvenile detention centers across the country.

The Ministry of Justice announced on the 24th, "In response to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' declaration of the COVID-19 'serious' stage, we are implementing measures to block the introduction of the infection into correctional and protective facilities," adding, "To ensure the safety of inmates, visitations at correctional facilities nationwide will be temporarily restricted."

Previously, starting from the 21st, the Ministry of Justice restricted inmate visitations at certain correctional facilities in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, where multiple confirmed cases occurred. Following the government's escalation of the alert level and the surge of additional confirmed cases nationwide, the Ministry decided to expand the visitation restrictions nationwide. However, 'Smart Visitations' using smartphone apps without physically visiting the correctional facilities will continue.

Visitations at juvenile detention centers are also suspended and replaced with video visitations. Until now, juvenile detention center visitations were operated in a limited manner using closed visitation rooms. Group activities such as probation social service and classes are all suspended as well.

Entry and exit screenings for foreigners will also be strengthened. General visitations at foreigner protection facilities are suspended, and special visitations by consular officials or lawyers will only be allowed in unavoidable cases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.