High-Density Conditions in Psychiatric Institutions... Human Rights Commission to Hold Forum on Facility Improvements

"Poor Environment May Constitute Inhumane Treatment... Improvements Needed"

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea is set to release information on the poor facility conditions of psychiatric medical institutions and will provide a forum to discuss possible improvements.

National Human Rights Commission of Korea, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The Commission announced that on April 17, it will hold a "Presentation of Survey Results and Discussion on the Facilities and Environment of Psychiatric Medical Institutions" at the Eroom Hall, Eroom Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Previously, the Commission received related complaints and conducted on-site visits, confirming significant disparities in facilities among medical institutions. In response, it carried out a "Survey on Human Rights-Friendly Treatment Environments in Psychiatric Medical Institutions" with a research team led by Professor Kim Sungwan of Chonnam National University Hospital.

With cooperation from public health centers nationwide, the research team analyzed floor plans from 172 institutions and conducted on-site investigations at 17 hospitals. The findings revealed that wards are generally operated in a way that many people live in confined spaces. The proportion of wards without windows was 44.6%, while 83.6% had overlapping corridor structures, making natural lighting and ventilation difficult.

Furthermore, the absence of separate standards for safety and hygiene facilities was found to make these institutions vulnerable to the risk of mass infection. Current laws only stipulate the minimum area of patient rooms and the number of isolation rooms required, but do not provide facility standards for cleanliness.

A representative of the Commission stated, "The poor environment itself may constitute inhumane treatment and can exacerbate patients' trauma, thereby delaying recovery. Improving ward environments is necessary to prevent self-harm, harm to others, and safety accidents."

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