Inmates at Hwaseong Vocational Training Correctional Institution learn to work as caregivers. (Ministry of Justice)

By Charles Audouin

In the southern Seoul suburb of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, Hwaseong Vocational Training Correctional Institution is one of some 50 prisons run by the Ministry of Justice that offers vocational training.

For inmates, this is not just their place of confinement but where they can reinvent themselves in charting another course in life.

Launched in 2009, the prison has developed skilled workers through customized vocational training in fields such as welding, carpentry, auto repair, 3D printing and mechanical design, and tiling. Inmates nationwide can apply for this program.

Among the estimated 1,800 inmates at the facility this year, 1,045 are taking 26 technical courses, the highest proportion among all 6,090 participants at the country's four regional correctional offices.

The sweat and efforts of the inmates have produced impressive results beyond the prison walls. At the annual National Skills Competition in Incheon in August, 18 of 22 competing prisoners won awards in nine trades like carpentry and tiling, with four winning a gold medal. This proved that their skills were on par with those of trade professionals in society.

The ultimate goal of such training is to ensure that inmates can smoothly reintegrate into society as well as prevent recidivism. The program also does more than just help them obtain technical certifications -- it also offers extensive job placement support so that they can find jobs after their release.

Last year alone, the ministry provided such assistance to 2,153 inmates.

"Vocational training is a crucial policy that enables inmates to secure stable jobs after their release and reintegrate into society as productive members," the ministry said. "We will further boost field-oriented vocational training to prevent recidivism among former inmates and build a safe society that makes the public feel safe."

caudouin@korea.kr