Number of inmates granted early parole rises on prison overcrowding: lawmaker

Seoul, October 18 - The number of inmates granted early parole before serving 60 percent of their sentence has surged due to prison overcrowding, according to lawmaker Rep. Joo Jin-woo. In the first eight months of the year, 634 inmates were released early, a significant rise from the 172 inmates who received the same treatment in 2025, as reported by the justice ministry.

Between 2022 and 2024, the number of inmates released early remained below 40 annually, but it has since jumped dramatically. Overcrowding at prisons across the country is the primary reason for this increase, as correctional facilities were operating at 126.2 percent of their capacity as of the end of August, up from 122.1 percent in 2025, according to the data.

To address this issue, the justice ministry has been expanding early paroles for elderly and ill inmates with low reoffense risk. The ministry aims to increase early paroles by 30 percent year-over-year. Rep. Joo has called for preventive measures to protect the public from the risk of additional crimes, suggesting the government should shift responsibility for managing reoffense risk to the public.

This includes a potential complete suspension of early parole for inmates who committed serious crimes and stricter management of electronic monitoring devices like anklets.