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¡ã The Ministry of Justice. Photo courtesy Ministry of Justice |
This is an advertorial for the Gwangju Juvenile Training School under the Ministry of Justice.
Minwoo Jung (not real name) had no adult to guide him at 18 years of age. With a violent father and an absent mother he was sinking into delinquency.
His hostile speech and looks were noted by teachers and after he was placed in a juvenile training school to help his family life, his mood improved and behavioural changes were noted.
Jung studied hard and ended up passing his college entrance exam and became qualified as a car mechanic. Upon leaving the Gwangju Juvenile Training School he found a job in a garage and settled back into society.
Gwangju Juvenile Training School runs four vocational courses providing licenses in car maintenance, facilities, welding and construction to aid detainees in rehabilitation and settling into society. The courses provide students with experience in various skills which allow them to not only find work but enter university.
Ji-woon Kim (not real name) is over 18 and was detained at Gwangju after dropping out of education and committing commercial fraud online. While at the center he received a facilities license and passed the college entrance exam. He is currently a sophomore at Kimhae University majoring in Fire Fighter Safety and Management and lives life to the full.
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¡ã The family rehabilitation program in action. Photo courtesy Ministry of Justice |
Ji-woon’s mother had earlier been in despair after receiving a call from the Gwangju Juvenile Training School and learning he was detained, but she was comforted by the attention and education he received there. She is now happy that Ji-woon received a scholarship and is attending university.
Scholarships are one of the forms of support provided by the Ministry of Justice’s Crime Prevention Policy Bureau (Director: Gwang-soo Oh). The program is supported by Mirae Asset and National Association of Volunteers for Youth Protection and aims to support students from households with low economic status, allowing Ji-woon and others to attend university.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice (President : Kyo-an Hwang)promotes demand-oriented Juvenile Training School facilities. First of all, YES (Youth Education Service) centers targeting the social settlement of released students, and facilities range from large rooms for sharing with many juvenile delinquents to small-scale shared rooms for 3-4 juvenile delinquents. Thirdly, exclusive facilities for medical treatment of students with mental health needs are being promoted.
Principal Sung-hark Choi of Gwangju Juvenile Training School states that in addition to the above policy, it is important for detainees to rebuild family relationships and he plans to hold family social service experience programs with such an aim. For students with severe illnesses at the center he will also offer treatment and support through medical aid under Gwangju Supreme and Prosecutors Office (supported by Gwangju Association of Justice Volunteers).
The Juvenile Protection Institution (under the Ministry of Justice) runs Juvenile Training Schools with special care and education services alongside the Juvenile Classification Review Board and Youth Dream-Up Center.
Visit the Ministry of Justice at moj.go.kr
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¡ã The Juvenile Training School accommodation after renovation. Photo courtesy Ministry of Justice |
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