Ministry of Justice defends prison air conditioner plan as minimal health measure

The Ministry of Justice has responded to public criticism regarding its plan to install air conditioning in correctional facilities, asserting that the measure is a necessary minimum step to protect the lives and physical safety of inmates vulnerable to extreme heat.

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This is a necessary minimum measure to protect the lives and physical safety of inmates vulnerable to heatwaves.

The ministry explained that the 1.2 billion won investment aims to enhance cooling systems in facilities, particularly focusing on areas housing elderly, disabled, or ill inmates who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. The air conditioning units will be installed in the corridors of inmate housing blocks, not directly inside the cells. This indirect cooling method is intended to mitigate rising temperatures within the living spaces.

Furthermore, the ministry highlighted that the initiative is expected to improve the working environment for correctional officers as well. In some cases, specific women's facilities with overcrowding and unique environmental conditions have also been included in the upgrade plan. This comes after public backlash surfaced online, with some expressing reluctance to allocate taxpayer funds for prisoners.

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The air conditioning will be installed in the corridors, not directly inside the cells, providing indirect cooling to mitigate rising temperatures and improve the working environment for correctional officers.

Currently, most prisons rely on fans, with air conditioning typically limited to staff offices and medical areas. The ministry emphasized that these cooling installations are part of ongoing efforts to combat heatwaves and prevent heatstroke, alongside measures like operating heatwave shelters and providing iced water. They reiterated that the installations are essential for safeguarding the health of vulnerable inmates.

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The reinforcement of cooling facilities is being pursued with a focus on housing blocks for inmates vulnerable to heat illnesses, such as the elderly, disabled, and patients.