Cheonan prison holds family reunions for foreign inmates

A local prison held a family reunion event for foreign prisoners ahead of the Chuseok holidays, officials said Sunday.

Cheonan Correctional Institution in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, said that it offered a reunion opportunity for 27 foreign prisoners on Friday, Korea Correctional Service said. They included 16 Chinese, four Americans and others from six other countries.

The reunions were aimed at supporting the psychological well-being of the prisoners who have been long separated from their family living abroad, officials said.

One Uzbekistani prisoner was allowed to spend the night with his family in separate housing.

(rene@heraldcorp.com)