By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Foreign envoys were given a guided tour of Korea's first prison for foreign inmates in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Tuesday.
"We wish this facility will provide better and systematic rehabilitation services for inmates," Justice Minister Lee Ki-nam said during an opening speech.
"A fair and equal yardstick will be adopted in dealing with all inmates to keep their dignity as human beings."
On hand were Filipino Ambassador H. E. Luis T. Cruzs, Bangladeshi Ambassador Shahidul Islam, Nigerian Ambassador Desmond Akawor and 14 other foreign envoys.
"It's a good initiative the Korean government took to provide better treatment to convicted foreigners," the Bangladeshi Ambassador told The Korea Times after looking around the compound.
It is the first prison of its kind in Korea and can accommodate up to 600 inmates. A reformatory was converted into the prison.
The move is part of an effort by the Korean government to cope with an increasing number of foreigners in Korea and a rise in their crimes.
At the same time, the government wants to highlight that it is paying attention to the rights of non-Korean inmates.
The number of convicted aliens has jumped nearly 2.5 times over the past four years, a state statistics showed. The foreign population is estimated at over 1 million, including illegal aliens.
Calls for having a foreigner-only jail have risen in order to provide better treatment for inmates with different social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Around 20 correctional officers fluent in English, Chinese and Russian will work at the facility. Inmates will also have free access to tailor-made foods and satellite TV.
To make their prison life more productive, the prison keeps more than 5,600 books on a wide range of issues in cooperation with civic groups, human rights advocates, universities and foreign envoys in Korea.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr
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