Jeonju Prison Establishes 'Mind and Body Healing Room' for Inmate Mental Stability
"Excessive Consideration" vs "Criminals Should Not Be Excluded from Society"
Blue House National Petition Calls for 'Facility Closure'
'Mind and Body Healing Room' (karaoke and game machines) installed at Jeonju Correctional Institution in Jeonbuk. Photo by Jeonju Correctional Institution
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Jeonju Prison in Jeonbuk is facing ongoing controversy over the installation of a 'Mind and Body Healing Room' (including karaoke and game machines) aimed at relieving stress and providing stability for inmates. Opinions are divided, with some viewing it as excessive consideration, while others see it as necessary for human rights protection and rehabilitation. A petition requesting the abolition of the facility has also been posted on the Blue House's national petition board. The prison clarified that they installed a karaoke device, not a karaoke room.
Earlier, Jeonju Prison announced on the 28th that it had opened the Mind and Body Healing Room for correctional rehabilitation and healthy social reintegration of inmates.
According to the prison, the Mind and Body Healing Room is equipped with a karaoke system and two whack-a-mole game machines. The prison, with the help of the Correctional Council, has been preparing the facility since early this year, with an opening cost reportedly around 50 million KRW. The karaoke system is operated by accepting inmate applications, allowing up to one hour of use, with priority given to death row inmates and those suffering severe stress from suicide or self-harm tendencies.
Jeonju Prison explained that due to restrictions on rehabilitation and religious activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they considered facilities to accommodate inmates and thus installed the healing room. This is understood to be the first time nationwide that a prison has installed karaoke and game machines.
Upon learning this news, some citizens criticized it as excessive benefits for inmates, who are in prison for punishment.
Office worker Kim (27, female) said, "Inmates are in prison to pay for their crimes, not to have fun," and criticized, "Is it reasonable to spend a huge sum of 50 million KRW to set up entertainment facilities under the guise of a healing room?"
Kim added, "They say the purpose of installing the Mind and Body Healing Room is because of COVID-19, but while citizens in society are refraining from outdoor leisure activities like outings or appointments, this is excessive consideration for criminals," and pointed out, "Wouldn't it be even more upsetting for those directly harmed by criminals to know about this?"
University student Lee (22, male) also said, "In a situation where there are many people who need help with taxes, spending taxes for criminals' human rights is a wrong act."
On the other hand, there are responses that the facility is necessary for rehabilitation and the pursuit of happiness for inmates. Office worker Kim (31, male) said, "I think it is important to provide inmates with a sense of stability and happiness for their future social reintegration," and argued, "Criminals are also citizens. Therefore, completely excluding them from society is a shortcut to creating an unhealthy world."
Kim added, "Reducing crime rates will come from not socially isolating them but allowing them to interact and live together."
Jeonbuk Jeonju Prison announced on the 28th that it has established a 'Mind and Body Healing Room' (karaoke and gaming devices) for the purpose of relieving inmate stress, while a petition urging its closure has been posted on the Blue House's public petition platform. Photo by Yonhap News
Amid ongoing debates over the Mind and Body Healing Room, on the 29th, a post titled 'Please Close the Jeonju Prison Mind and Body Healing Room Immediately' was uploaded on the Blue House national petition board.
The petitioner emphasized, "Criminals are people who harm others or violate laws and regulations. Prisons should be harsh and severe places so that no one wants to return there, regardless of the severity of the crime."
They continued, "I want to ask those who say criminals' human rights must be protected to put their hand on their heart and answer honestly: Can you confidently say that human rights should be protected for someone who harmed your child, sibling, or family member?"
They added, "The money used to install the Mind and Body Healing Room should be actively used to help victims of crime or support neighbors in need," and stated, "Whether crimes were planned or impulsive, the choice was theirs, so they deserve to be persecuted and oppressed."
Meanwhile, Jeonju Prison explained in a statement that day, "We have equipped the Mind and Body Healing Room with a 'karaoke device,'" and clarified, "The related equipment will be used restrictively through counseling for long-term inmates or those with psychological instability."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
