In a move to better guarantee prisoners' rights, the random censorship of outgoing prisoner mail will be banned in principle, the justice ministry said Thursday.
All inmates currently have to unseal their personal mail to allow the jail staff to randomly check for possible contraband or writing that may jeopardize the security and order of the jail.
The move followed a ruling in February by the Constitutional Court that the current regulation allowing the random inspection of prisoners' mail is unconstitutional.
The ministry said it has recently made a pre-announcement of a revised bill stipulating that prisoners in principle submit sealed mail to prison guards, and will be immediately notified when the mail is examined.
"The revised bill is to guarantee prisoners' rights to communication, in line with the top court's decision," the ministry said.
However, the revised bill does not apply to drug offenders, prisoners charged with organized crime, or inmates who have violated prison rules, it added.
Also, the sealing will be restricted when the mail is addressed to other inmates, the ministry added. (Yonhap)