Human rights groups demand cooling measures for South Korean detention facilities

Human rights organizations are demanding immediate government action to improve extreme heat conditions within detention facilities, including prisons and immigrant detention centers. During a press conference held on August 11, activists reported that indoor temperatures in correctional facilities are reaching nearly 37 degrees Celsius, leaving detainees to rely solely on electric fans and ice water due to a lack of air conditioning.

Advocates noted that while the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has previously recommended establishing appropriate temperature standards to prevent human rights violations, the government has not implemented sufficient follow-up measures. The groups emphasized that detainees are unable to move to cooler locations, placing their lives and health at risk. They also highlighted that correctional officers working in these facilities are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

The organizations submitted a formal opinion to the Blue House requesting several measures: the legalization of protective actions based on heatwave stages, the expansion of cooling equipment in correctional facilities, guaranteed access to temperature and humidity information for detainees, and the public disclosure of heatwave response plan implementation results.