Ministry of Justice Introduces "Open Call Project for Correctional Facility Construction"... Local Governments to Propose Candidate Sites

Applications Submitted Voluntarily After Resident Consultations

The Ministry of Justice announced on July 10 that it will launch an "Open Call Project for Correctional Facility Construction," allowing local governments to directly propose candidate sites in order to minimize conflicts among residents during the process of establishing correctional facilities.

Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This open call is designed for local governments to voluntarily apply after consulting with residents and local councils, taking into account the specific conditions of their region. The Ministry of Justice plans to begin the public call for proposals in August. The ministry expects this initiative to serve as a cooperative model between central and local governments, aiming to reduce social conflict while expanding the daytime population and revitalizing the local economy.

Currently, correctional facilities are facing increasingly severe overcrowding issues due to a continuous rise in the number of inmates and the aging of existing facilities. However, the expansion of new facilities has been significantly delayed, primarily due to objections from residents and lengthy complaints during the site selection process.

The Ministry of Justice will comprehensively evaluate participating local governments based on criteria such as site suitability, feasibility of project implementation, resident acceptance, plans for securing infrastructure, and transportation and accessibility, in order to select the final location. An independent site selection committee, chaired by an external member, will be established to ensure objectivity and fairness in the review process.

The selected region will feature resident-friendly designs that harmonize with the surrounding environment. Advanced security technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) video analysis, intelligent surveillance systems, and smart access control, will be introduced to ensure safety. In particular, open-access convenience facilities like sports complexes and parking lots that can be shared with local residents will be included, and the ministry also plans to hire local talent as correctional officers through consultations with relevant agencies.

Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho stated, "Correctional facilities are essential national infrastructure that protect the lives and safety of the people," adding, "The implementation of the open call system will serve as a new starting point for establishing a future-oriented foundation for correctional administration in collaboration with local governments."

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