South Korea’s correctional facilities, including detention centers and prisons, are becoming overcrowded. A surge in drug offenders in recent years has been cited as a key factor.
The occupancy rate of the country’s detention centers and prisons reached 125.3% as of the end of last year, according to data released by People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo on March 10. This means that for every 100 available spaces, 125 inmates were housed. The total inmate population reached 62,981, exceeding the official capacity of 52,250 by more than 12,000.
The overcrowding rate, which stood at 112.7% in 2019, briefly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic but rebounded to 118.4% in 2023 before surpassing 125% last year—the highest in 30 years. “The last time the inmate population exceeded 60,000 was during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis,” said a Ministry of Justice official.
A significant factor contributing to overcrowding is the surge in drug offenders. The number of inmates convicted of drug-related crimes jumped from 3,574 in 2019 to 6,628 in 2024, an 85.5% increase over five years.
Even during the pandemic, when the total inmate population declined between 2020 and 2022, the number of drug offenders continued to rise. In 2023 and 2024, drug offenders increased 32.2% and 17.6% year-on-year, respectively. The proportion of drug offenders among all inmates has also risen from 6.6% in 2019 to 10.5% last year, reaching double digits for the first time.
Officials attribute this trend to the rapid spread of narcotics, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s, and the government’s “war on drugs,” which has led to more arrests.
“Conflicts among inmates and complaints about poor living conditions have increased,” said a correctional facility official. “A rise in inmates has overburdened staff, forcing administrative workers to take on security-related duties, such as monitoring visits and overseeing external medical treatments.”
Some inmates have filed lawsuits against the government, citing “violations of human rights.”
A, who was detained at Incheon Detention Center on fraud charges, sued the government over inhumane living conditions at the facility. He said he shared a 16.19-square-meter cell with 13 other inmates, leaving each person with just 55 centimeters of sleeping space—forcing them to sleep with their shoulders touching. A also complained that overcrowding in the indoor exercise area meant he could exercise only 30 minutes daily instead of the allocated one hour.
Another inmate, identified as B, was held at Jeonju Correctional Institution, where seven to eight people were crammed into an 11.71-square-meter cell. He described the conditions as so cramped that he could only sleep on his side or curled up, as lying flat was impossible. He also reported suffering from severe dehydration in the summer due to poor ventilation and lack of air conditioning.
In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that housing inmates in less than 2 square meters of space per person violates their human dignity and constitutional rights, and that the government can be held liable for damages. A and B, confined in crowded spaces, have recently filed lawsuits against the government seeking compensation. Their cases are currently in the first round of trial.
The Ministry of Justice plans to expand correctional facilities, increasing the current capacity from 52,250 to 59,965 by 2028. However, this effort faces significant hurdles, including strong public opposition to constructing and relocating prisons. An alternative strategy involves reducing the inmate population through expanded parole and bail programs, but this, too, faces strong public resistance, making it a politically sensitive issue.
“Judges are reluctant to hand down prison sentences simply because detention centers and prisons are at full capacity,” said a lawyer from a major law firm. “It’s an absurd but telling sign of how serious drug-related crimes have become in our society.”
Rep. Joo Jin-woo urged the government to prioritize expanding and relocating correctional facilities near urban centers. He also called for stronger measures against drug trafficking, stressing the need for enhanced airport and seaport inspections to cut off supply routes.
