Suspects in Custody Should Be Allowed to Have Dinner
during Regular Dinner Time
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) decided that preventing suspects in custody from having dinner during regular dinner time due to investigation schedule is a violation of human rights.
Thus, the Commission recommended Seocho Police Station in Seoul take measures to allow the accused to eat at a normal dinner time, and suggested the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to provide dinner break for the confined suspects during the investigation.
On September 2009, Mr. Kim (44) filed a complaint to the NHRCK, stating that while he was being investigated at the Prosecutors’ Office, a lunch box was provided during lunch time, but he could not have dinner until the investigation was completed at midnight.
The NHRCK viewed that Seocho Police Station had an obligation to provide the complainant as well as other suspects with dinner at dinner time, according to the Minimum Standards on the Treatment of the Accused.
The NHRCK estimated the investigation time of the accused who were investigated at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for one month during August 2009. For 20 days out of 21, the investigation was completed after 19:00 so that the accused had dinner after 22:00. The NHRCK concluded that measures should be taken as the matter is not confined to one month, but it is a common practice against the accused.
Therefore, the NHRCK recommended Seocho Police Station and Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office set up appropriate measures to allow the accused to have dinner at normal dinner time.
