Gwangju Detention Center's Relocation Project Stalled for 16 Years Amidst Resident Opposition

The new construction project for the Gwangju Detention Center has been stalled for 16 years due to land selection disputes and resident opposition. The Gwangju-South Jeolla and North Jeolla regions are classified as areas without a dedicated detention center for pre-trial detainees in the country.

As a result, pre-trial detainees from these regions are being housed together in the Gwangju Correctional Facility, which already exceeds its capacity with a 145% occupancy rate. Currently, the Gwangju Correctional Facility houses 1,285 convicted inmates and 974 pre-trial detainees, living in dire conditions with 10-12 people sharing rooms designed for five.

Housing pre-trial detainees with convicted inmates raises concerns about management difficulties and the guarantee of defense rights. It is often difficult to secure meeting appointments due to fierce competition, and pre-trial detainees face disruptions in attending trials or receiving assistance from their lawyers. This leaves two major challenges: ensuring the right to a fair trial and improving living conditions for inmates.

The Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Justice discussed plans in a 2024 meeting to build a detention center on the site of the existing Gwangju Correctional Facility. Previously, Gwangju City requested the Ministry of Justice to change the planned relocation site in April of last year. The Gwangju Correctional Facility maintains that building a new detention center is essential for aiding inmates' reintegration into society and guaranteeing the human rights and defense rights of pre-trial detainees.