High security holiday: Koreans are willing to pay to be locked in a prison cell (19 photos)

In South Korea, some people voluntarily go to a paid "prison" to take a break from the hustle and bustle of work.





Perhaps any sane person in our country knows that prison is one of the most terrible places that no one should go to under any circumstances.



Prison in Russia

A prison is not just walls and bars that restrict freedom, but, in fact, a completely different world, different from the free world, capable of changing a person beyond recognition, both externally and internally. Moreover, not always for the better. Prison in the Russian Federation is a real punishment, and, I repeat, hardly anyone of sound mind and sober memory would want to end up there...





Prison in Russia

But this is in our country. But in South Korea, known for its progressive views on life in general, a private paid prison appeared relatively recently, which absolutely anyone can visit.



"The Prison Inside Me"

Having paid something in the region of $100, a person finds himself in a cell and lives according to a strict prison routine. He is given a prison uniform, a yoga mat, a tea set, a pen and a notepad. The prisoners sleep right on the floor - there are no beds in the cell, and there are no mirrors. But there is a toilet.



In addition, in this prison the use of mobile phones and other gadgets, as well as any communication with other prisoners, is prohibited. But three meals a day are usually served: rice porridge is usually served for breakfast, steamed sweet potatoes for lunch, and banana shake for dinner.



And in general, the conditions in a private prison differ significantly from state-owned institutions of the same nature in South Korea. The whole point is that a paid prison is not a way to punish a person, but, on the contrary, to help him, give him the opportunity to rest, be alone with himself and, so to speak, recharge his batteries.



Koreans, and Asians in general, are incredible workaholics. They spend most of their lives at work, often forgetting that there is another life besides office walls, computers and deadlines. For example, personal... or public - it doesn’t matter! Due to their “innate” workaholism, and there is no other way to describe this phenomenon, many South Koreans suffer from unsettled life: in other words, from loneliness.



It is with the loneliness of the population and excessive workload in South Korea that most mental illnesses and even suicides are associated. People literally “burn out” at their jobs, and without any outlet in the form of a loved one or even a best friend, they find nothing better than... well, you understand...



It was for such people that a private paid institution called “Prison Inside Me” was opened in 2013, located in Hongcheon County in Gangwon Province, which is 90 kilometers east of Seoul.



The idea to create this kind of institution came to the mind of a Korean ex-prosecutor named Kwon Yong-Seok back in 2008, when he, coming home from work, frankly admitted to his wife that “he would rather spend time in solitary confinement than return to 100 years old.” hour work week." And then I thought (but to myself): “How nice it would be to be in a punishment cell for a week, without cigarettes, alcohol and relationships with people, in order to decide how to live further.”



In fact, this is how the “Prison Inside Me” project appeared, where any Korean tired of the endless whirlwind of work could, at least for a while, take a breath, relax and decide for himself what he wants to see in his future life.

Since 2013, the “Prison Inside Me” has housed more than two thousand “prisoners,” most of whom are office workers and students in dire need of a break from the harsh working conditions and academic culture of South Korea as a whole. The main difference between “The Prison Inside Me” and real Korean prisons is the short duration of the stay in it.



A person can live in a “Prison” for 24 or 48 hours. More is already a rarity, since one day of stay in it costs about 90-100 dollars, and not every Korean can afford such a “vacation”. However, there are those who require a week of “prison leave”.



The “prisoners” are confiscated of all their personal belongings and, first of all, gadgets, given dark blue prison clothes and placed in solitary confinement, where, in fact, there is nothing at all except a toilet and a yoga mat, but I already mentioned this above. There are no general cells in the paid prison.



Voluntary “prisoners” can leave their solitary confinement cells only at strictly designated times, and food is handed to them through a special window located in the cell door - just like in a real prison!



Communication with other “prisoners” in this prison is also limited, and you can exchange a few phrases with a fellow sufferer only during the hours allotted for this - during group classes that promote spiritual development. The “prisoners” spend the main part of the day in complete isolation from the outside world, in solitude and silence.



And some official data. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in 2017, each Korean worked on average 2,024 hours. According to this indicator, only Costa Rica and Mexico are ahead of South Korea.



Experts believe that the hectic work schedule and heavy workload are the main causes of depression among the local population, which, in turn, leads to suicide. By the way, in the same 2017, South Korea took first place in the number of suicides...



So the next time you feel tired and realize that your work process no longer brings you any moral or physical satisfaction, just close your eyes and imagine yourself in some quiet, secluded, calm and, of course, safe place. .for example, in the South Korean “Prison Within Yourself”. By the way, many “prisoners”, leaving the walls of the institution, note that this place is not a prison at all. Prison is where they return...