In Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, there is a large iron gate building inscribed with the words 'Opening the Future with Sunjin.' The building is surrounded by a concrete wall covering an area of 22,000 square meters (6,655 pyeong). The phrases 'Establishing legal order' and 'Cultivating morality' are painted on the wall. Below that, a transport bus is parked, which also has the phrase 'Fair and transparent law enforcement' attached.
However, this place is not an actual prison. It is a set used for filming dramas and movies, utilized as a tourist attraction. Tourists can rent prison uniforms and tour single and multi-occupancy cells with barred windows. There is also a courtroom, allowing visitors to experience the entire process of committing a crime and serving prison time.
An official from Iksan said, 'More than 200,000 people visited the prison set last year, and the total number of tourists is 5 million,' noting that 'tourists utilize restaurants and other services, thus benefiting the local economy.' The prison set was established in 2005 on the site of the former Namsung Men's School.
◇ Utilizing closed prisons as cultural and artistic spaces, start-up centers, and drone complexes
There are municipalities that utilize actual prisons for various purposes, mostly to stimulate the local economy.
The Jeonnam Jangheung Prison was transferred from Jangheung-eup to Yongsan-myeon in 2015. The prison facility remains intact in Jangheung-eup. Jangheung-gun remodeled the vacant prison into a cultural and art space called 'Papillon House (ZIP),' which is set to open fully in the first half of next year.
Here, tourists can enter a holding room called 'word prison' and sit at desks to read books. As Jangheung promotes itself as a literary city, it aims to connect the prison facility with literature. There is also a space to appreciate videos created by local artists. Jangheung-gun plans to add accommodations (Hotel Prison) to the cultural and artistic space to encourage tourists to stay longer.
Daegu City plans to establish a youth support center (Future Hope Town) on the site of the old Daegu Prison. The facility will support start-ups and employment in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. It also plans to create residential spaces, cultural facilities, and walking paths for young professionals and newlyweds.
Changwon City in Gyeongnam has decided to create a drone-specialized complex on the site of Changwon Prison. The prison is currently located in Hoesung-dong and is scheduled to transfer to Pyeongseong-ri by 2028. Changwon City plans to develop an industrial complex that manufactures and develops domestic drone component technologies at the site of the Hoesung-dong prison. An official from Changwon City noted, 'Drones produced domestically tend to rely on foreign sources for key components such as flight control devices and batteries, and by nurturing the drone industry, we can attract related corporations.'
◇ To revitalize the region… municipalities are also establishing new prisons
There are municipalities also establishing new prisons. In Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, a new prison will be built on a 150,660 square meter (45,574 pyeong) site. It will accommodate 500 inmates and have 200 correctional staff. Namwon City expects that once the prison is established, the population visiting the area, including correctional staff, their families, and visitors, will increase. They also aim to raise income for local farming households by providing meal ingredients through them. The Namwon Prison will receive 72.3 billion won in national funds, with construction slated to start in 2027 and expected to be completed in 2031.
An official from a municipality said, 'In the past, prisons were avoided facilities that harmed the local image, but recently they are playing a role in attracting population and revitalizing the local economy.'