South Koreans sweat over US$779,000 air conditioning plan for prisons

South Korea’s Ministry of Justice on Tuesday sought to defuse criticism over a 1.2 billion won (US$779,162) plan to install air conditioning in prisons, clarifying the equipment will cool corridors, not inmates’ cells.

The ministry framed the installation as a minimal measure to protect vulnerable inmates and correctional officers from extreme heat, while online critics condemned the taxpayer-funded project as an unfair convenience for criminals.

The ministry said the equipment will be installed in the corridors, not inside the cells, acting as an indirect cooling method to mitigate temperature increases throughout the prison.

“The system will help improve the working environment for both inmates and correctional officers,” the ministry said in a statement.

The installation prioritises corridors housing older inmates and those with disabilities or other medical issues. Some women’s housing units were also included after assessing overcrowding, physical vulnerabilities and detention conditions.

“To respond to heatwaves and prevent heat-related illnesses, we have continuously promoted measures such as operating cooling shelters and providing iced water,” the ministry said in a statement. “This cooling facility reinforcement is also a minimal measure to protect the life and physical safety of inmates vulnerable to heatwaves.”

However, public reaction remains highly critical. Online communities were flooded with accusations that the plan was a waste of taxpayer money.