Seoul: The state human rights watchdog has urged the justice ministry to inspect "protection rooms" in correctional facilities across the country after an inmate died in one of these rooms in March, allegedly due to neglect. According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued this recommendation after investigating the death of the inmate, who had been detained in a prison protection room. The investigation revealed that the inmate was placed in the room due to violent behavior but found that the required preliminary medical checkup was inadequately conducted. Additionally, the inmate's calls for help from the protection room went unanswered before his death. A prison protection room is intended to offer special attention to inmates who may be at risk of suicide, self-harm, or illness. However, the facility involved claimed the inmate was moved to the room after displaying aggression toward another inmate and injuring an official attempting to control the situation. Despite t hese claims, the NHRC's investigation determined that the inmate did not have a history of attempted suicide or self-harm and was unnecessarily placed in the protection room, especially considering he was about 60 days away from discharge. The NHRC has recommended that the justice minister conduct a thorough inspection of prison protection rooms nationwide to prevent similar incidents. The commission further concluded that the inmate's personal liberty and dignity were excessively restricted by the use of three types of physical restraint gear, which should only have been applied minimally and under limited circumstances.