"Getting Your Hair Pulled and Kicked Is Routine... '9 Inmates Packed into 5 Pyeong' Cheongju Women's Prison, the Reality of Sweltering Heat [Reportage]"

One-Day Inmate Experience at Cheongju Women's Prison

Over 30 Degrees in the Housing Unit, Relying on Just Two Fans

Correctional Officers Face Increased Burden from Complaints, Assaults, and Petitions

Government Considers Independent C

"Getting your hair pulled is just the beginning; being kicked happens all the time."

On June 17, at Cheongju Women's Prison in Cheongju, Chungbuk, the air inside a communal room of just over 5 pyeong (16.62 square meters), where two wall-mounted fans had stopped working, quickly became heavy due to the weather exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. The irritability caused by the heat and overcrowding was directed at the correctional officers who manage the inmates most closely. Complaints, shouting, and erratic behavior from inmates have become commonplace in the cells. Correctional officer Son Doeun, who has worked here for six years, explained, "During the summer, inmates become more sensitive and there are more complaints. In addition to physical altercations, many inmates file petitions with the National Human Rights Commission or the Ministry of Justice, which increases the administrative workload."

On the 17th, reporters experienced the life of inmates at Cheongju Women's Prison in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Although the communal room is about 5 pyeong (approximately 17 square meters) with a capacity of 5 people, due to overcrowding, up to 9 inmates sometimes live there. Provided by the Ministry of Justice

As soon as the reporter passed through the prison gates to experience a day as an inmate, handcuffs were applied. After a health check and identification verification, all personal items—including cell phone, watch, hair tie, and even socks—were surrendered. Changing into a prison uniform and rubber slippers made the reality of being a 'detained suspect' set in. Cheongju Women's Prison, the largest women's prison in South Korea, also houses high-profile inmates such as Lee Eun-hae, Jung Yoo-jung, and Jeon Cheong-jo, who have attracted considerable public attention.

Overcrowding: Up to 9 Inmates in a 5-Pyeong Communal Room

After having a mugshot taken, the reporter headed to the fourth floor of the inmate ward. Elevators are only available for wheelchair users or those with special permission, so the stairs had to be used. The room assigned to the reporter was a communal cell designed for 5 people. It contained two wall-mounted fans, a sink, a locker, a television, and a folding desk. At first glance, the room seemed relatively tidy, but once the press group sat down, it quickly felt cramped. At times, up to 9 inmates live in this room.

The heat made time pass slowly. The fans ran for 50 minutes and then stopped for 10 minutes. Even while sitting still, sweat gathered on the forehead. Only by relying on ice water distributed in the afternoon could the heat be somewhat alleviated. Since there is no air conditioning in the corridors either, correctional officers who frequently patrol wiped sweat from their brows repeatedly. Although the time spent behind the iron door was short, the combination of heat and overcrowding easily made people irritable.

Corridor of the inmate building at Cheongju Women's Correctional Institution. Provided by the Ministry of Justice

Shortly after, the iron door rattled loudly. An inmate, ignoring a correctional officer's instructions, yelled profanities—"You bastard, I'll file a petition with the Human Rights Commission. What's your name?"—and charged with a broom in hand. Although this was a scheduled riot response drill, the shouts, curses, and banging on the door felt genuinely threatening. Correctional officers called for backup from the CRPT (Correctional Rapid Patrol Team) via radio, and the situation was immediately contained. Officers on the scene sighed, stating, "Incidents like this happen at least twice a day, and the real situations are often even more intense."

One Correctional Officer Manages 41 Inmates at Night

The burden of overcrowding ultimately falls on the correctional officers. Cheongju Women's Prison operates with 243 staff members and around 750 inmates. At night, 18 security staff are responsible for managing these 750 inmates—about 41 inmates per officer. From disputes and concerns about self-harm among inmates to complaints, physical altercations, and lawsuits, nearly all issues inside the prison fall to the correctional officers on site.

This situation is not unique to Cheongju. In 2025, the nationwide capacity of correctional facilities was 50,614, but the average daily inmate population was 63,680, resulting in an occupancy rate of 125.8%. That same year, there were 1,629 correctional incidents and 4,501 petitions from inmates to the Human Rights Commission. The lack of space impacts not just the treatment of inmates but also creates limitations in correctional and rehabilitative efforts and leads to excessive workload for correctional officers.

In response, the government is working to improve the treatment of correctional staff. Justice Minister Sung Ho Jung, who visited the site that day, stated, "The public may think that locking someone up after they commit an offense is sufficient, but you can't confine someone forever. If correction and rehabilitation are not done properly, society will ultimately pay the price." He continued, "Improving the structurally risky and poor working conditions at correctional facilities is urgent," and announced plans to introduce risk allowances for correctional officers and to include budget allocations for better working environments. President Jae Myung Lee also emphasized the need to properly honor 'uniformed citizens,' including correctional officers, in his Memorial Day address on June 6.

Justice Minister Sung Ho Jung is conducting the third onsite inspection of correctional facilities at Cheongju Women's Prison on the 17th. Photo by Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice is also considering making the Correctional Bureau an independent external agency to address overcrowding and improve working conditions. Currently, the Correctional Bureau oversees 54 correctional facilities and more than 16,000 correctional staff nationwide, but the central organization still operates as a subsidiary agency under the Ministry of Justice. Both inside and outside the legal community, there are calls for establishing an independent external agency to enhance administrative expertise in areas such as alleviating overcrowding and managing inmates with drug or mental health issues.

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