Ministry of Justice: "It Is Not True That Correctional Officers Are Required to Wear Uniforms"

The Ministry of Justice denied on the 19th the media reports claiming that correctional headquarters officials who do not interact with inmates are also being required to wear uniforms.

Officials are moving inside Seoul Eastern Detention Center. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

In a press release issued that day, the Ministry of Justice stated, "The proposed revision of the 'Correctional Officer Uniform Regulations' is intended to allow uniformed correctional officers to work with pride," denying the reports.

The Ministry explained, "When the uniform regulations were revised in 2018, the basis for correctional officers working at the Ministry headquarters or regional correctional offices to wear uniforms was removed," adding, "Due to criticism from the field, we are currently working on establishing grounds to allow uniforms to be worn during major events or when necessary." They also noted that no related budget has been executed yet.

A Ministry of Justice official emphasized, "We have never pursued mandatory uniform wearing, nor will we do so in the future," adding, "This is intended to revise provisions because there is no regulation regarding uniform wearing for correctional headquarters staff."

On the same day, Hankyoreh reported that despite opposition from employees, Shin Yong-hae, head of the Ministry of Justice Correctional Headquarters, is pushing for a revision of the regulations to require even correctional headquarters officials who do not have contact with inmates, outside of prisons and detention centers, to wear uniforms. It was also reported that Director Shin emphasized the regulation revision and made remarks implying that '(if uniforms are worn) the Minister will take an interest.'

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