Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Foreigners get own prison - and menu - in South Korea

South Korea has opened what officials say is the world's first purpose-built prison for foreign convicts. The prison offers Western food and satellite TV programmes in English, Chinese, Russian and Arabic.

The number of foreigners in South Korean jails has more than doubled in the past four years to about 1,500.

The prison's director said the inmates would still be able to pursue the "Korean dream" that had led them to the country in the first place.

The prison is about 100km (62 miles) south of the capital, Seoul, in Cheonan. Inmates are given classes in Korean culture but can also view satellite TV from around the world and eat non-Korean meals. A number of the guards are fluent in English, Russian or Chinese.

No comments: