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Con air? Gov't doubles down on taxpayer-funded air conditioning in prisons after backlash.

Published: 02 Jun. 2026, 14:08

Members of the legal press corps wear inmate uniforms and take part in a firsthand simulation of an inmate’s daily routine during an inspection at Anyang Prison in Gyeonggi, on April 15. [MINISTRY OF JUSTICE]

The Ministry of Justice on Tuesday defended its plan to install air conditioning in correctional facilities, calling it "the very least they could do to protect the lives and physical safety of inmates vulnerable to extreme heat," after the plan drew public backlash.

The ministry has allocated 1.2 billion won ($791,400) this year to upgrade cooling systems in prisons, per local reports on Sunday. Some are questioning whether taxpayer money should be spent on air conditioning for convicted criminals.

“We are reinforcing cooling facilities primarily in prison housing units that accommodate inmates vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, including the elderly, people with disabilities and patients," the ministry said in a statement. "Some women’s housing units have also been included in the reinforcement plan after comprehensively considering overcrowding levels, physical characteristics and overall detention conditions.

"The Ministry of Justice has continuously pursued measures to respond to extreme heat and prevent heat-related illness, including operating cooling shelters and providing iced water."

It added that the cooling equipment will be installed in the corridors rather than inside the cells, "making it an indirect cooling method aimed at mitigating indoor temperature increases.

"We expect it will help improve working conditions not only for inmates but also for correctional officers.”

The public response online, however, remains sharply critical. "No matter how much people talk about human rights, air conditioning for criminals is going too far — save our taxes," wrote one user on the internet. "Is it only criminals' human rights that matter? They don't pay a single won in taxes, and now they get air conditioning paid for by mine," wrote another.

Others drew a contrast with low-income elderly residents living in cramped urban housing. "Innocent elderly people in single-room slums don't even have air conditioning — and they're putting it in prison cells?" they wrote. "The victim is sweltering in a tiny room, while the perpetrator stays cool in an air-conditioned cell," said another.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]