Kim Ho-joong Transferred to 'Somang Prison' – What Kind of Place Is It?
Singer Kim Ho-joong (34), who was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for a drunken hit-and-run incident and is currently serving his sentence, has been transferred from the Seoul Detention Center to Somang Prison, a private correctional facility. This has intensified interest in what Somang Prison is like.
According to the legal community on the 21st, Kim Ho-joong entered Somang Prison, located in Buknae-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi Province, on the 18th.
Kim Ho-joong finalized his 2 year and 6 month sentence after giving up on appealing in May. While serving time at the Seoul Detention Center, he applied for admission to Somang Prison, which is the first and only private correctional facility in the country, and this application was accepted.

Somang Prison is a special correctional facility operated by the Agape Foundation, based on Christian principles. It conducts rehabilitation activities grounded in Christian faith and is also known for its very low recidivism rate. One of the notable features of Somang Prison is that inmates are called by their names rather than their inmate numbers.
A Place Boasting a Very Low Recidivism Rate
The admission criteria for Somang Prison are quite strict. Those eligible must be male, aged between 20 and 60 years, serving a sentence of 7 years or less with at least 1 year remaining, and have no more than two prior offenses. Additionally, individuals with drug, public security, or organized crime convictions are excluded. Furthermore, applicants must express their own desire to be admitted, and the Ministry of Justice conducts a thorough screening process.

The admission process begins with existing public prison staff reporting potential transfer candidates to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry reviews these candidates and informs Somang Prison of those who will be interviewed.
Somang Prison then visits each correctional center to meet with the candidates wishing to be transferred and collaborates with the Ministry of Justice to finalize the list of individuals to be transferred.

Background of Kim Ho-joong's Admission to Somang Prison
According to reports from a media source, it is said that people close to Kim Ho-joong suggested his admission to Somang Prison after considering various circumstances. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Kim Ho-joong expressed a desire to be transferred first.
Kim Ho-joong is known to be a Christian. In his third year of middle school, he received guidance at a church and passed the entrance exam for a performing arts school. With the dedicated coaching of a teacher at Gimcheon Arts High School, he excelled in vocal music, winning first place in various competitions. A film titled 'Pavarotti,' starring Han Seok-kyu and Lee Je-hoon, was also made based on these true stories.
Meanwhile, Kim Ho-joong was involved in a hit-and-run incident last May while driving his own car after drinking. He crossed the central line on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and collided with a taxi coming from the opposite direction before fleeing the scene.
He was later arrested and charged for allegedly having his manager, Mr. Jang, turn himself in on his behalf. Initially, Kim Ho-joong denied the charges of drunk driving but admitted to the crime ten days after the incident.
Image Source: Kim Ho-joong / News1, Somang Prison