South Korea’s Prisons Expand Mental Health Services

South Korea’s Ministry of Justice reports a rise in inmates with mental health conditions and foreign nationals within its correctional facilities, prompting a shift towards rehabilitation and specialized support. The 2026 Correctional Statistics Yearbook indicates that, in the past year, an average of 63,680 people were held daily in South Korean prisons, with 6,345, roughly 10 percent, diagnosed with mental illness.

The demand for psychological treatment is increasing due to a rise in cases involving stalking and drug offenses. The Ministry of Justice responded by increasing the number of inmates participating in psychological therapy programs by 38.1 percent to 12,051 last year.

They are also bolstering language support for a growing foreign inmate population, currently representing 74 nationalities, driven by increases in drug and immigration-related crimes. The Ministry aims to move away from purely punitive corrections toward a system that supports rehabilitation and societal reintegration, and will continue to train specialized personnel to meet evolving needs.