▲ Representative Kim Ki-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea
While complaints and accusations filed by inmates against correctional officials at correctional facilities have reached 3,024 cases over the past five years, only one correctional officer has been indicted.
According to data submitted by the Ministry of Justice and released today (September 26) by Representative Kim Ki-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, inmates filed 3,024 complaints against correctional officers from 2022 to June of this year, involving 6,161 accused officers.
By year, there were 716 cases in 2022, 677 in 2023, 622 in 2024, 763 in 2025, and 246 in 2026 (through June).
Among the accused officers, 4,177 (67.8%) received dismissals, and 1,226 (19.9%) were cleared of suspicion.
Combined, dismissals and decisions not to charge accounted for 87.7% of all accused personnel.
Only one correctional officer was indicted, while 14 were found to have committed "no offense," 36 received decisions of "no right to prosecute," 359 remained "under investigation," and 348 fell under other dispositions.
Acts of harm in which inmates assaulted, intimidated, or threatened correctional officers occurred 592 times over the past five years.
There were 109 cases in 2022, 190 in 2023, 152 in 2024, 104 in 2025, and 37 in 2026 (through June).
In March, an inmate caused a disturbance at dawn by shouting profanities and singing through a window, and assaulted a dispatched task force officer by swinging fists.
The officer suffered an abrasion to the forehead.
In April, an inmate bit two officers and struck another officer in a specific area with a knee.
Representative Kim emphasized, "While inmates' human rights and legitimate avenues for redress must be thoroughly guaranteed, correctional officers must also be protected from assault, threats, and excessive legal disputes." He added, "The Ministry of Justice must supplement legal support and protection systems so that officers are not discouraged from carrying out their duties by being repeatedly subjected to complaints in the course of performing their legitimate work."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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