Human Rights Commission: "Inmate Opinions Must Be Considered in Prison Accident Compensation"

by Oh Jieun

Published 06 May.2026 12:00(KST)

"Consolation Payments for Injury and Death Decided Internally... Concerns Over Objectivity"

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has determined that it is not appropriate to decide the amount of consolation payments for inmates who die or are injured during correctional work solely through internal committees.

On the 15th of last month, the Ministry of Justice conducted the second on-site inspection of correctional facilities at Anyang Prison in Dongan District, Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province. The photo shows legal reporters wearing prison uniforms experiencing a day in the life of an inmate during the on-site inspection of the correctional facility conducted that day. The photo is not directly related to the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On May 6, the Human Rights Commission announced that it had recommended to the Ministry of Justice improvements to the consolation payment decision system for injury and death cases occurring during correctional work. Specifically, the commission called for: ▲ the participation of external experts in the field of industrial accidents, ▲ the establishment of procedures to ensure inmates have an opportunity to express their opinions, and ▲ the creation of a system for providing guidance on the right to claim state compensation and related procedures.

According to a survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission in October last year at three correctional facilities nationwide, the amount of compensation is determined through internal meetings composed of correctional facility officials. The Commission pointed out that excluding external experts and the inmates themselves from this process raises concerns about a lack of objectivity and fairness.

In addition, the Commission inspected the overall management of safety equipment, protective gear, safety education, and accident response systems in workplaces and vocational training centers within the facilities. It assessed that regular safety training is generally being conducted and efforts are being made to establish systems for accident prevention. A representative from the Commission stated, "We will continue to promote the protection of inmates' human rights and improve their treatment through ongoing on-site inspections of correctional facilities."