National Correctional Officers Martial Arts Competition Resumes After Seven-Year Hiatus Due to COVID-19

55th Competition Held at Legal Research and Training Institute
Jeong Seongho: "Correctional Officials Are the Unsung Heroes Safeguarding Safety"

The National Correctional Officers Martial Arts Competition, which had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held again after seven years.

Justice Minister Sung-ho Jeong is speaking at the 55th National Correctional Officer Martial Arts Competition held on the 12th at the Correctional Service Training Institute in Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk. Provided by the Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice announced that it held the 55th National Correctional Officers Martial Arts Competition on June 12 at the Legal Research and Training Institute in Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk. The event had been halted after the 54th competition in 2019 due to COVID-19 and resumed this year after a seven-year hiatus.

The National Correctional Officers Martial Arts Competition, which began in 1949, is the largest sports event organized by the Correctional Headquarters. It aims to help correctional officials build physical strength and mental resilience through martial arts training, and to foster unity and solidarity within the organization.

This year, Justice Minister Jeong Seongho, Correctional Headquarters Director Lee Hongyeon, as well as about 800 participants including teams and supporters from correctional facilities nationwide, attended the event. A total of 47 teams and approximately 370 athletes from 35 correctional institutions across the country competed in kendo, judo, and taekwondo categories. Notably, martial arts officers and staff from the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration and Foreign Policy Headquarters and the Crime Prevention Policy Bureau also joined the competition for friendly matches.

In his opening address, Minister Jeong stated, “Correctional officials are the unsung heroes who safeguard public safety and social order in the most challenging environments. The National Correctional Officers Martial Arts Competition is a valuable venue to enhance the unity and pride of correctional officials, and to strengthen their crisis response capabilities.”

He added, “The year 2026 should mark the beginning of correctional innovation. By addressing overcrowding, improving the treatment and welfare of correctional officials, and innovating correctional policies focused on treatment and rehabilitation, we will reduce recidivism and create a safer society that citizens can truly feel.”

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