Four COVID-19 Positive Inmates at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center File First Lawsuit Against the State... "Compensate 10 Million Won" (Comprehensive)

A truck is entering the Seoul Eastern Detention Center on the 5th, where the 6th round of mass testing was conducted for staff and inmates amid the COVID-19 outbreak. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Amid the ongoing cluster outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, a first case has emerged where inmates who tested positive for COVID-19 at Dongbu Detention Center have filed a lawsuit against the government seeking damages.

Four inmates who were incarcerated at Dongbu Detention Center and tested positive for COVID-19 filed a complaint on the 6th at the Seoul Central District Court, claiming 10 million KRW each in damages from the state. They also applied for evidence preservation of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from Dongbu Detention Center.

All plaintiffs reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 while at Dongbu Detention Center, with some currently transferred to other detention facilities.

Attorney Kwak Jun-ho of Law Firm Cheong, representing the plaintiffs, stated, "The government did not provide masks to inmates, failed to isolate confirmed cases from general inmates, and neglected overcrowding. The government’s negligence in managing detention facilities led to the cluster infection."

According to the Ministry of Justice, in the 6th full-scale inspection conducted the previous day on 429 staff members and 338 inmates at Dongbu Detention Center, 66 additional inmates tested positive, and one more inmate under re-examination also tested positive, bringing the total cumulative confirmed cases at Dongbu Detention Center to 1,161.

Meanwhile, as of 5 p.m. on the same day, the Ministry of Justice announced that the total number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in correctional facilities nationwide was 1,203, including 41 staff members and 1,162 inmates and released individuals.

Among the inmates transferred from Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, seven at Yeongwol Prison and three at Gangwon Northern Prison were additionally confirmed positive.

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