"They Eat Better Than I Do": Prison Special Meals on Liberation Day Spark Controversy

Have you ever wondered what is served in correctional facilities?

Prison menus have come under fire as it was revealed that some correctional facilities provided special meals to inmates.

The August inmate meal plan was recently posted online.

What caught people's attention was the special meal provided on August 15, National Liberation Day.

North Gyeongsang Prison No. 1 served half a pizza, while Cheongju Women's Prison provided half-and-half fried chicken to inmates.

The Dongbu Detention Center featured a variety of menu items, ranging from pudding-like desserts to spicy soft tofu stew with seafood and high-rice (Japanese-style hashed beef rice).


Netizens reacted with frustration, leaving comments such as, "They eat better than innocent people like me," and "Providing special meals even to criminals goes too far."

The unit cost per meal across correctional facilities nationwide is around 1,700 won, and menus planned on a weekly basis are repeated for a month.

However, controversies regarding the treatment of inmates flare up repeatedly whenever special meals for national holidays or traditional festivals are made public.

(Photo: Captured from the Ministry of Justice Korea Correctional Service website)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.