SPOTLIGHT 25/12/14 South Korean prison officer flags overcrowding, healthcare gaps

[성기화 요셉]

Reports show that 43 of the country’s 52 detention facilities are exceeding their capacity

Catholic prison officials are seen attending a Mass organized on the Jubilee of Prisoners on Dec. 14 at the Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: Catholic Times of Korea)

By UCA News reporter

Published: December 18, 2025 10:33 AM GMT

Updated: December 18, 2025 11:00 AM GMT

A Catholic prison official in South Korea has expressed alarm over severe overcrowding and inadequate health care in the country’s prisons, warning that systemic shortcomings are worsening conditions for inmates and staff.

Overcrowding in correctional facilities, including prisons and detention centers, has reached a “serious” level, according to Paul Kim Jae-sul, honorary president of the laity-led Sacred Heart Society, an association of prison guards.

“There are approximately 65,000 inmates nationwide,” many of whom are facing serious difficulties due to flaws in the correctional system, Kim said, noting that the situation is especially dire in the metropolitan region.

Kim made the remarks during a Mass held to mark the Jubilee of Prisoners on Dec. 14 at the Byeongin Martyrs Centennial Memorial Church in the Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine in Seoul.

The Mass was organized by the National Council of Catholic Prison Ministry in Korea.

“Many inmates are suffering from mental difficulties, but there is a severe shortage of specialized personnel to treat and rehabilitate them,” he added.

About 350 people attended the Mass, which was presided over by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, former archbishop of Seoul. Officials from the Ministry of Justice were also present.

The gathering coincided with the Jubilee of Hope, launched by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, 2024, and scheduled to conclude on Jan. 6, 2026. The Jubilee places special emphasis on marginalized groups, including prisoners.

Concerns raised by church officials echo findings from a 2024 investigation by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. It said 43 of the country’s 52 detention facilities are holding more inmates than their intended capacity, The Korea Times reported.

The commission noted a steady rise in complaints related to prison overcrowding, from 92 cases in 2020 to 136 in 2022. It warned that cramped conditions are contributing to heightened health risks among inmates.

Overcrowding was also found to increase the likelihood of violent incidents among inmates and raise the risk of accidents within facilities, the commission said.

Cardinal Yeom urged correctional officers and prison ministry volunteers to remember the human dimension of their work, describing their role as “an extremely difficult vocation.”

“You are called to uphold justice while enforcing the law, but you must not lose sight of God’s mercy within the correctional system,” he said.

He told those working with inmates that “a single kind word, a fair judgment or a warm glance” could “become a light giving someone the courage to live again.”

Before the Mass, participants viewed a video titled The Story of Catholic Correctional Ministry in Korea, featured testimonies from volunteers and former inmates, and reflected on the ministry’s ongoing relevance.

As part of its Jubilee initiatives, the Catholic prison ministry delivered Pope Francis’ proclamation letter to the director of the Corrections Bureau at the Ministry of Justice.

The group has also expressed hope that the Jubilee’s central theme of “hope” will be tangibly realized within South Korea’s correctional system, particularly through reforms that address overcrowding, mental health care, and the dignity of incarcerated people.