Scarier Than Criminals? Why Local Governments Are Desperately Bidding for Prisons

Faced with the crisis of population decline and regional extinction, local governments across South Korea are jumping into competition to host prisons, a facility once considered unwelcome.

This is driven by expectations that the settlement of correctional officers and their families, along with visits from inmates' families, will breathe new life into local commercial districts.

Particularly in rural areas suffering from severe population outflow and economic stagnation, prisons are viewed as an opportunity to attract new residents and create jobs.

According to local governments and other sources, a total of seven local municipalities have submitted applications for the Ministry of Justice's site selection contest to establish four new correctional facilities.

Notably, four local governments in the North Gyeongsang Province region have entered the bidding race.

Cheongsong County submitted its proposal to host a correctional facility to the Ministry of Justice on November 3, while three other counties—Yeongdeok, Yeongyang, and Uiseong—submitted their bids today (November 4), the application deadline.

Most of the local governments competing to host correctional facilities are suffering from population decline and the threat of regional extinction.

An official from Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, said, "We are losing 500 young people from the region every year, leaving us in no position to be picky."

Consequently, expectations are high that the establishment of a new prison will help revitalize the local economy.

In fact, in Jinbo-myeon, Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province, where prisons are clustered, about 1,000 prison staff members reside permanently, and year-round visits from families help nearby restaurants and cafes maintain stable sales.

However, there are also concerns regarding the side effects of hosting a prison.

Opinions have been raised that the economic benefits of building a prison may fall short of expectations, and that the potential risks to resident safety and worsening living conditions must be evaluated objectively.

Following proposal reviews and on-site inspections, the Ministry of Justice plans to finalize the four final locations next month.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video edited by Seo Byeong-wook | Designed by Lee Jeong-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.