Seoul Detention Center Guard Tests Positive for COVID-19...Infected While Visiting Friend's Wedding in Province

Trial Delays Unavoidable for Detained Defendants... All Trials Postponed at Seoul Central District Court

Seoul Detention Center Inmate Building Appearance

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] A correctional officer at Seoul Detention Center who was confirmed to have been in contact with a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) tested positive for COVID-19 after undergoing testing during self-quarantine.

The correctional officer was confirmed to have been infected after attending a wedding in a provincial area with a friend who had used a coin karaoke room visited by a confirmed case who had been to an Itaewon club.

It is known that the officer came into contact with about 270 inmates and staff before self-quarantine after contact with the confirmed case, raising alarms in the legal community. It is expected that the progress of trials involving detained defendants will inevitably be disrupted.

According to the Ministry of Justice and courts on the 15th, correctional officer A, affiliated with Seoul Detention Center, who reported contact with a confirmed case and underwent a COVID-19 test the previous day, was confirmed positive early that morning at the Dongan District Public Health Center in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province.

A had attended a wedding held in a provincial area on the 9th with friends, and it was reported that one of the friends, B, was confirmed positive.

Epidemiological investigation revealed that B had recently visited a coin karaoke room in Changdong, and at the same time, confirmed case C from Dobong District had also used the same karaoke room. C was found to have been infected after contact with confirmed case D from Gwanak District, who had previously visited a club in Itaewon.

After receiving the report from A, Seoul Detention Center instructed A not to come to work and immediately arranged for testing at a screening clinic. The detention center also conducted disinfection throughout the facility and placed all staff who had contact with A under self-quarantine.

Despite these measures, the possibility of additional confirmed cases remains high. A was responsible for escorting inmates to meet with external visitors such as lawyers, and after contact with confirmed case B, worked for three days from the 11th to the 13th, during which time it was confirmed that 277 people within the detention center had contact with A.

The Ministry of Justice stated that 23 staff members and 254 inmates who had contact with A were immediately quarantined and that disinfection of the entire facility was carried out. General visitations have been temporarily suspended, and in consultation with the Korean Bar Association, lawyer visitations have also been temporarily halted.

So far, six staff members who had close contact with A have all tested negative, and there are no inmates who had close contact with A, according to the Ministry of Justice. The ministry plans to operate its own screening clinic to test the remaining 271 contacts. Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the n-room who is currently in isolation custody and whose movements overlapped with A’s, is also scheduled to be tested on the same day.

The courts have also taken emergency measures.

A Supreme Court official stated, “We received notification from Seoul Detention Center that a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and that it will be difficult to proceed with trials involving detained defendants today.”

He added, “The COVID-19 response committee has informed courts at all levels to thoroughly prepare according to quarantine guidelines due to concerns about secondary and tertiary infection spread through detention center colleagues, detained defendants, and visiting lawyers. Specific measures such as disinfection of courtrooms and buildings, notification and contact tracing of court members, and informing lawyers and judicial scriveners who frequently enter the court building will be implemented.”

In fact, considering this situation, the Seoul Central District Court, the largest court in the country, closed its East and West buildings and postponed all trials, including those of detained defendants held at Seoul Detention Center. However, cases requiring prompt handling, such as warrant hearings, are being conducted in an annex courtroom.

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