Sex offenders watch porn in prisons

By Jung Min-ho

Sex offenders in prisons freely watch and share sexually explicit videos, including child porn, according to reports by SBS.

Speaking to the local broadcaster, a prisoner at the Gyeongbuk Correctional Institution said there are dozens of memory cards containing such content, as well as adult comic books, in the facility.

The prisoner said many inmates use electronic dictionaries with a video playback function to watch such material.

The prisoner said he repeatedly raised the issue with prison officials but they did nothing to address it.

The problem is not unique to that facility. SBS reported that former prisoners said they also had access to such content while serving time in other facilities.

The Ministry of Justice said prisoners are legally allowed to have adult content unless it was illegal (such as child porn). It said it will investigate whether any violations of the laws occurred in prisons and find ways to resolve the issue through a law revision if necessary.