By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Criminals and suspects will no longer undergo strip searches at correctional facilities from next month.
The Ministry of Justice said Sunday that it will suspend the practice at the recommendation of human rights and civic groups who argued that the forcible search was a gross violation of human rights.
Instead, would-be detainees will undergo searches wearing basic clothes.
Strip searches were intended to prevent would-be prisoners from smuggling in contraband such as cigarettes and dangerous equipment.
According to the ministry, an average of 15 smuggling cases are reported annually.