South Korea’s Ministry of Justice is responding to criticism over a 1.2 billion won (about $780,000) plan to install air conditioning in prisons. On Tuesday, the ministry clarified that the system is intended to cool prison corridors rather than inmates’ cells. It says the measure is meant to protect people in custody and staff during periods of extreme heat and to reduce risks of heat-related illness.
In its explanation, the ministry states that the installation will serve as an indirect cooling method, lowering overall temperature levels in detention facilities. It also says the equipment prioritizes corridors that house older inmates and those with disabilities or other medical conditions. The ministry adds that some women’s housing units are included based on assessments of overcrowding, physical vulnerability, and detention conditions.
Critics, including some online commenters, argue that taxpayer-funded air conditioning amounts to an unfair benefit for prisoners. The ministry counters that the purpose is maintaining safer and more workable conditions for both inmates and correctional officers, particularly as heatwaves occur.
