South Korea suspends prison air conditioning project amid heatwave

South Korea's Ministry of Justice has suspended a project to reinforce air conditioning equipment in correctional facilities, despite temperatures rising to 37 degrees Celsius. The project, which involved a 1.2 billion won budget, was intended to expand cooling in housing units for vulnerable inmates, including the elderly, disabled, and those with medical conditions.

Public criticism has intensified following the decision, with some citizens questioning the use of taxpayer money to provide air conditioning for criminals. Currently, most cells rely on electric fans, with some facilities operating fans on a cycle of 50 minutes of use followed by 10 minutes of rest to prevent overheating. Existing air conditioning is limited to corridors in medical housing units, utilizing an indirect cooling method.