Prisons Unable to Watch World Cup Matches: Will It Change If South Korea Reaches the Round of 16? Ministry of Justice Says "Will Consider If Public Interest Grows"

No Recorded Broadcast of World Cup Match Against Czech Republic
Possible Reconsideration if Public Interest Increases

In a field inspection at Anyang Prison last April, legal reporters wearing inmate uniforms directly experiencing a day in the life of inmates. Photo by Yonhap News

While South Korea achieved a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in its first group stage match of the FIFA 2026 North and Central America World Cup, it has been reported that inmates in prisons and detention centers nationwide are unable to watch World Cup matches.

According to Yonhap News on June 12, correctional authorities decided not to record the first group stage match against the Czech Republic, which took place at 11:00 a.m. that day.

According to Article 48 of the Act on the Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Inmates, inmates are allowed to listen to the radio and watch TV for emotional stability and personal development.

However, inmates are not free to watch whatever channel they want. In correctional facilities, only "Borami Broadcast," which is scheduled mainly with cultural and educational programs by the Ministry of Justice, is available for viewing.

Broadcast Schedule for Borami on June 12. Screenshot from the Ministry of Justice Correction Headquarters website.

According to the broadcast schedule released by correctional authorities, four major terrestrial channels—KBS1, MBC, SBS, and EBS1—are scheduled to air from 9:30 a.m., but the match against the Czech Republic was not included in the programming.

However, if public interest rises, such as if South Korea advances to the round of 16, the authorities may consider including the matches in the broadcast schedule.

An official from the Correction Headquarters told Yonhap News, "Currently, there are no plans to broadcast recorded matches of South Korea's World Cup games," adding, "If public interest or the significance of the event increases, such as through advancement to the round of 16, we will consider it comprehensively."

There have been instances in the past where live World Cup broadcasts were specially scheduled. During the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, as South Korea was a host nation, inmates were allowed to watch major matches live. In 2006, during the World Cup in Germany, the Ministry of Justice allowed all matches to be broadcast live, citing the need for national unity.

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