Inmates Under Treatment Detention Watched Pornography on TV via USB

Unauthorized USB Import Leads to Months of Pornography Viewing
Among Viewers, There Is Also a Sex Offender

Sex offenders undergoing treatment at the National Forensic Hospital under the Ministry of Justice were found to have illegally brought in pornographic USB drives and watched pornography for several months. In this regard, concerns have been raised about the negligence in the management and supervision of the treatment and detention facilities.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Kwon Chil-seung, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, several detainees undergoing treatment at the National Forensic Hospital under the Ministry of Justice in the first half of this year shared USB drives and watched pornography for months.

They watched pornography using a USB device in a common area within the hospital where televisions are available. Some of them were even sex offenders. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article.
[Photo by Pixabay]

The National Forensic Hospital under the Ministry of Justice is an institution specializing in treatment and detention. Treatment and detention refers to the disposition of confining offenders with tendencies such as drug addiction or pedophilia, who pose a risk of reoffending, in facilities like the National Forensic Hospital while concurrently providing psychiatric treatment.

They watched pornography using USB drives in common areas within the hospital where televisions are available. Among them were even sex offenders.

There have been criticisms that the hospital’s management and supervision were lax. In fact, inspections of items brought into the National Forensic Hospital have been declining since 2020 (884 cases in 2020 → 694 in 2021 → 381 in 2022). This sharp decrease is notable even when compared to the declining inmate population (1,016 → 863 → 798).

In response to concerns about inadequate inspection procedures for items brought in, the Ministry of Justice explained, "The departments responsible for inspecting items brought into the National Forensic Hospital are the Administrative Support Division, the Civil Affairs Office, and staff at each ward. During the first inspection at the Civil Affairs Office, the contents are checked in real-time using closed-circuit television (CCTV) and body cameras. When handing over to ward staff, only the contents excluding packaging materials are delivered, and the ward staff conduct a second inspection before handing the items to the patients undergoing treatment and detention."

The Ministry of Justice also stated that since May, the procedures for inspecting items brought in have been strengthened.

After the incident, the Ministry of Justice conducted an internal investigation at the National Forensic Hospital as well as an additional investigation by the Crime Prevention Policy Bureau. The investigation confirmed that hospital staff were not involved in the crime. The detainees who watched pornography are currently under investigation by the competent prosecution office (Gongju Branch of Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office) in accordance with the Act on Treatment and Detention.

However, regarding this incident, specific details such as the route of USB introduction, detection circumstances, and USB photos are difficult to disclose due to concerns about copycat crimes, personal information, and ongoing investigations.

Assemblyman Kwon Chil-seung stated, "It is unacceptable that sex offenders, including those with pedophilic tendencies, watched pornography in treatment and detention facilities intended to prevent recidivism. The Ministry of Justice must thoroughly investigate the facts and punish those responsible."

Previously, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to strengthen the system, including post-treatment detention for child sex offenders, ahead of the release of Kim Geun-sik, who served 15 years in prison for serial sexual assaults on over ten minors last year.

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