South Korea's only women's prison bursting at the seams, with 9 inmates crammed into space for 5

South Korea's only women's prison is grappling with severe overcrowding as a summer heat wave pushes daytime temperatures to 33 degrees Celsius.

An inspection of Cheongju Women's Prison in North Chungcheong Province on June 17 found the realities of overcrowding and understaffing on full display. Shared cells of roughly 5 pyeong (16.62 square meters) — each fitted with modest furnishings, a sink and a toilet — were stifling with heat. Two wall-mounted fans ran without pause but did little to cool the air.

The space was so cramped that inmates could not fully stretch their legs, forcing some to sit with their backs against the wall and their knees drawn up to their chests.

Cheongju Women's Prison, which opened in 1989, is the country's largest facility dedicated to female inmates. It houses a large number of serious offenders, including high-profile violent criminals such as Ko Yu-jeong and Lee Eun-hae, whose cases drew widespread public outrage. Online, the facility has earned the nickname "the legendary Cheongju."

Among South Korea's 54 correctional facilities, Cheongju Women's Prison is considered at least relatively well-maintained — but it shares the same chronic overcrowding problem as the rest.

The prison's official capacity is around 610 inmates, but as of June 17 it held 742, putting the occupancy rate at 120 percent. Shared cells designed for five inmates house an average of nine — effectively doubling the intended occupancy.

The tight quarters have left inmates on edge, and the strain on corrections officers managing them grows by the day.

Prison officials said just 18 officers are on duty overnight to supervise the entire inmate population — a ratio of more than 40 inmates per officer.

"Shouting between officers and inmates is routine," one officer said. "There are countless times an agitated inmate won't calm down and ends up kicking an officer."

Last month, an inmate severely damaged the wallpaper in a cell, and an officer was assaulted while checking on the inmate's condition. In March, an agitated inmate picked up a wheelchair to threaten an officer and kicked the officer in the back, causing bruising and other injuries.

"There is only one officer managing an entire floor," another officer said. "You never know what might happen, so you can't even carry a safety baton. Putting on protective gear helplessly is about all we can do."

Frequent exposure to assaults and disturbances has taken a measurable toll on officers' mental health.

A 2024 Ministry of Justice analysis of corrections civil servants' mental health found that about 20 percent of survey participants were classified as at risk. The ministry identified "excessive workload and staff shortages caused by overcrowding" as the single biggest source of occupational stress among officers.

Corrections authorities warn that the harsh conditions facing inmates weaken rehabilitation efforts, raise the likelihood of reoffending and ultimately drive up social costs. The Ministry of Justice said it is pursuing a fundamental shift in corrections policy in response.

"The purpose of corrections is not simply to confine inmates, but to prevent reoffending and protect public safety," Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho said. "We will designate 2026 as the inaugural year of corrections reform, improve working conditions on the ground, and push forward with a policy overhaul centered on treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration into society."