Another Breach in Correctional Facility Quarantine... Ministry of Justice to Conduct Additional Full Inspection Starting Tomorrow

Newly appointed Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye is arriving at Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 28th to check the quarantine situation related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as his first schedule of the term. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Numerous COVID-19 cases have emerged in correctional facilities nationwide for the first time in about a year, causing related authorities to be on high alert.

According to the Ministry of Justice on the 9th, a total of seven people tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day: three inmates and one staff member at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, one inmate and one staff member at Hwaseong Vocational Training Prison, and one staff member at Gyeongbuk Northern 2 Prison. This number may increase. The Ministry of Justice plans to conduct additional mass testing at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center on the 10th, 14th, and 19th, considering the COVID-19 incubation period.

The legal and quarantine authorities are concerned about a recurrence of the mass outbreak in correctional facilities that occurred last January. In particular, Seoul Dongbu Detention Center saw a continuous increase in cases since the first confirmed case on November 27 last year, reaching 1,060 cases in January (1,018 inmates, 21 staff members, and 21 staff family members). This accounted for 43% of the total 2,419 inmates.

As the sense of crisis intensifies, voices of criticism are emerging from the political sphere. Shin In-kyu, the standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, said in a statement yesterday, "The severe COVID-19 situation is largely a result of the government's own actions," and urged "Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye to take responsible measures."

Since his inauguration, Minister Park has visited eight correctional institutions emphasizing COVID-19 prevention, but with the recent confirmed cases, it seems difficult to avoid criticism for failing to prevent the outbreak in advance. His most recent visit was to Incheon Detention Center on the 2nd. Minister Park conducted an on-site inspection of the inmate housing and attorney visitation rooms within the 12-story high-rise building structure of Incheon Detention Center, where the three Cs (crowding, close contact, and confined spaces) overlap. Seoul Dongbu Detention Center was inspected for quarantine status by Vice Minister Kang Sung-guk on the 6th of last month.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice stated, "We will make every effort to block the occurrence of COVID-19 in correctional facilities amid this severe quarantine crisis." Regarding the confirmed cases at Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, they also announced that a joint on-site response system was established yesterday between the COVID-19 Correctional Facility Emergency Response Team and Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, and discussions were held with the local public health center’s epidemiological investigation team about future additional mass testing schedules and establishing a quarantine system.