Repeated Infections in Correctional Facilities... Ministry of Justice Declares Another 'Emergency'

Strengthening quarantine system due to confirmed cases at Suwon Detention Center and Jeonju Prison... Extension of visitation restrictions in line with Level 4 social distancing

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Ministry of Justice is on high alert as COVID-19 confirmed cases continue to emerge within correctional facilities. Although Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye immediately visited the sites to conduct quarantine inspections, concerns remain that a second Dongbu Detention Center mass infection incident could occur.

According to the legal community on the 23rd, the Ministry of Justice decided on the 20th to conduct additional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests on 36 inmates at Suwon Detention Center who were confirmed positive and those suspected of close contact. Although all staff and inmates who had contact with the confirmed cases tested negative, considering the incubation period, those suspected of close contact will be quarantined for two weeks to prevent further spread.

The situation is similar at Jeonju Prison, where one staff member tested positive. After testing all staff (327 people) and inmates (1,214 people), all results were negative, confirming no further spread. However, since prison staff violated quarantine rules and held group dinners, additional epidemiological investigations will focus on the other correctional officers who attended the meals. Disciplinary procedures will also be promptly initiated against the highest-ranking manager among the dinner attendees and staff who violated quarantine rules.

In line with the government's announcement today to extend the social distancing level 4 in the metropolitan area, the Correctional Headquarters decided to strengthen visitation methods at correctional facilities in the metropolitan area again. Considering that visitation systems at correctional facilities have been operated according to government distancing adjustment plans, visitation at metropolitan correctional facilities is likely to be restricted until the 8th of next month. Previously, since the 12th, the Correctional Headquarters had restricted all visitations, including in-person and smart visitations, at correctional facilities in the metropolitan area.

The current visitation system for correctional facilities allows, at level 1, pretrial detainees and S1 grade inmates to have visits three times a week, and S2, S3, and S4 grade inmates to have visits 6 to 4 times per month, respectively. In levels 2 and 3 areas, pretrial detainees and S1 grade inmates can have visits twice a week, and S2, S3, and S4 grade inmates can have visits 5 to 3 times per month.

However, visitation methods at correctional facilities located outside the metropolitan area, including Jeonju Prison where confirmed cases emerged, may be partially strengthened. Although the Ministry of Justice increased the number of possible visits per stage by changing the visitation system in May, the recent nationwide rise in COVID-19 cases may lead local governments to apply stricter visitation methods than their current social distancing levels.

The scope of activities of the Vice Minister’s direct 'COVID-19 Correctional Facility Emergency Response Team' will also be expanded. They will oversee not only the quarantine system of correctional facilities but also vaccine management, including strengthening management of transferred inmates and commuting staff, which have been factors in recent additional confirmed cases. A Correctional Headquarters official stated, "Recognizing that the inmate density in correctional facilities is critically high and that confirmed cases can occur and spread at any time, we will focus more on vaccination, expanding PCR testing, and preparing response measures according to situations."

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