National Forensic Hospital: 9 Wards Not in Operation Due to Shortage of Medical Staff
We examine the National Forensic Hospital's shortage of medical personnel and the reality that operations at 9 wards have come to a halt. From gaps in treatment custody to the burden of psychiatric care, find out why this happened.
It has been confirmed that the National Forensic Hospital is unable to operate 9 of its 25 wards in total due to a shortage of medical personnel. The hospital is responsible for treating mental patients, drug addicts, and sex offenders who have been placed under treatment custody.
According to an analysis of Ministry of Justice data by Rep. Kim Kipyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, as of July this year the National Forensic Hospital had 20 authorized physician positions, but only 12 doctors were actually working there, bringing the staffing rate to just 60%. Even among psychiatrists, only 9.6 of the 15 authorized positions were filled.
The number of inmates with mental illnesses in correctional facilities has been steadily increasing over the past five years, rising from 4,869 in 2021 to 6,345 in 2025. As a result, it was found that each psychiatrist is responsible for around 58 people.
The National Forensic Hospital has 25 wards and 900 beds, but only 16 wards are currently in operation. As the Supreme Court recently emphasized the role of the courts in cases where the need for treatment custody is clear, there are 전망 that demand for treatment custody may increase further in the future.