[Exclusive] 6 Out of 11 Juvenile Detention Centers Overcrowded... 'On the Verge of Exploding'

Seoul Juvenile Classification and Assessment Center
Girls' Occupancy Rate Hits Record 250%
Ministry of Justice: "Discussing Facility Expansion"

It has been confirmed that 6 out of 11 juvenile detention centers nationwide are suffering from "overcrowding," exceeding their official capacity. In particular, the girls' section at the Seoul Juvenile Classification and Assessment Center, where female juvenile offenders awaiting trial are temporarily held, is reported to be at more than 2.5 times its capacity, with some warning that the facility is "on the verge of exploding."

According to operational data on juvenile detention centers submitted by the Ministry of Justice to the office of Representative Joo Jinwoo of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee on July 30, 6 out of 11 juvenile detention centers nationwide (including pretrial detention facilities) are currently holding more detainees than their official capacity. Facilities experiencing overcrowding include Anyang, Cheongju, Busan, Seoul, and Daegu juvenile detention centers, as well as the Seoul Juvenile Classification and Assessment Center. The overall occupancy rate at these facilities has increased noticeably since the beginning of 2024.

In particular, the occupancy rate at facilities dedicated to female juveniles has reached a record high. As of July 29, the occupancy rate at Anyang Juvenile Detention Center was 185%, while Cheongju Juvenile Detention Center reached 150%. At the Seoul Juvenile Classification and Assessment Center, the official capacity for girls is only 35, but as of July 29, the number of detainees exceeded 90, resulting in an occupancy rate of 250%.

The overcrowding issue in juvenile detention centers is directly linked to human rights. At Anyang Juvenile Detention Center, even though the largest rooms are designed for two people, four individuals are currently sharing a single room. The so-called "knife sleep," where detainees lie side by side on the floor without beds in a cramped space, has become the norm, severely threatening the sleep, hygiene, and psychological stability of the detainees.

Overcrowding in juvenile detention centers has shown a marked increase over the past two years. In 2022, the nationwide average occupancy rate was 76.1%, but it quickly rose to 88.3% in 2023. Last year, for the first time, it exceeded 100%.

A Ministry of Justice official stated, "Juvenile crime is generally on the rise, and the proportion of female juveniles in particular is increasing rapidly, which is intensifying the overcrowding problem." The official added, "Whereas the ratio of male to female juveniles used to be 8 to 2, it has recently surpassed 7 to 3." The official also said, "We recognize the need to expand juvenile detention facilities and are currently consulting with relevant ministries."

Kim Dowoo, a professor at the Department of Police Administration at Kyungnam University, commented, "The original purpose of juvenile detention centers is rehabilitation and education, but if they are operated as simple detention centers due to overcrowding, that purpose cannot be fulfilled."

Representative Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party stated, "If overcrowding that exceeds the official capacity continues to repeat, lawsuits for damages against the state will increase, and ultimately taxpayers' money will be wasted." He added, "It is time to reconsider the location of juvenile detention centers that have become incorporated into urban areas due to city expansion, and to undertake fundamental reforms so that correctional facilities can fulfill their intended functions."