By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

“Daegu Prison, with a history of 100 years, will start a new 100 years in Habin.” Daegu Prison held a relocation ceremony at the prison's general sports field in Habin-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Daegu City on May 2.

More than 300 guests attended the ceremony, including Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, Dalseong-gun Mayor Choi Jae-hoon, Daegu High Prosecutor's Office Director Noh Jung-yeon, Daegu District Prosecutor's Officew Director Shin Eung-seok, Corrections Headquarters Director Shin Yong-hae, Daegu Regional Corrections Commissioner Kim Dong-hyun, and local residents. 

Starting with a progress report, the ceremony was followed by a commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony, unveiling of a plaque, commemorative tree planting, and a tour of the correctional facility.

Daegu Prison was built with a total project cost of KRW 185.1 billion on a site of 269,857㎡, with a total area of 61,123㎡ from the first basement to the third floor, and a total of 28 buildings including a government building, a detention center, and an emergency waiting center (79 units). 

In addition, the state-of-the-art electronic security system was introduced to greatly reduce the height of the fence, which was 4 to 5 meters high, and there is no surveillance tower. The 120-meter-wide buffer space between the correctional facility and residential areas is equipped with amenities such as a nature park, childcare facilities, and public parking lots for residents.

In addition, the multi-purpose gymnasium, tennis courts, sports fields built alongside the correctional facility are also used by residents and contribute to revitalizing the local economy through direct sales of agricultural products. 

Prior to this, Daegu Prison transferred more than 2,000 inmates from Hwawon-eup, Dalseong-gun, to the new building in Gammun-ri, Habin-myeon, in November last year, divided into 30 buses.

Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae said, “I am grateful for the mature citizenship and open attitude of the people of Dalseong-gun who showed during the relocation of Daegu Prison. We will strive to create a safer society with various correctional policies that reach out to the people.” 
 

Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo said, “In order to repay the people of Habin for accepting the relocation of the prison, Daegu City will actively promote the opening of Habin IC while relocating the wholesale market for agricultural products.”

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Park Sung-jae toured the state-of-the-art correctional facility, electric wheel, and portable correctional equipment exhibition center and encouraged the staff on duty.