Park Beom-gye Inspects Correctional Facilities... "Strengthening the Quarantine Management System"

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye visited Hwaseong Vocational Training Prison yesterday afternoon to inspect the COVID-19 response system. / Ministry of Justice

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Park Beom-gye, Minister of Justice, has launched an emergency inspection of quarantine measures at Hwaseong Vocational Training Prison, where five recent COVID-19 cases were confirmed.

According to the Ministry of Justice on the 17th, Minister Park visited Hwaseong Vocational Training Prison the previous afternoon to receive a report on the COVID-19 response status and personally inspected the transfer site where inmates who completed vocational training were urgently returned to their original institutions.

At the site, Minister Park stated, "We will take an active interest and provide unwavering support to wisely overcome this crisis." He added, "Although the best efforts have been made so far for COVID-19 prevention, do not let your guard down. I hope all staff will unite their efforts to quickly stabilize the organization by exploring all necessary methods and making every effort to strengthen the quarantine management system through consultations with the prosecution and quarantine authorities."

Meanwhile, the results of the first nationwide COVID-19 screening of correctional facilities are expected to be released within the day. As of the morning of the previous day, nine additional COVID-19 cases were confirmed among inmates and staff at correctional facilities nationwide. The number of confirmed cases at Hongseong Prison, where the first group infection occurred, has increased to a total of 45, including 3 staff members and 42 inmates. Currently, the Ministry of Justice is housing all confirmed cases and inmates who had contact with them in separate housing units or in single rooms to prevent transmission among exposed inmates and the spread of group infections within the facility.