‘죄와 병: 사라진 사람들’ [시사기획 창] / KBS 2026.09.22.

'Crime and Illness: The Vanished People' Mr. Yoo Ho-gyun was sentenced to eight months in prison for repeated dine-and-dash offenses. He thought he would be released in eight months. However, it was 11 years later that he finally stepped out of the National Forensic Hospital. Punishment has a set end. If so, who determines the end of therapeutic confinement, and by what criteria? Therapeutic confinement is a system designed to treat individuals whose crimes were influenced by mental illness and return them to society. However, the reality confirmed by the reporting team revealed significant gaps. Those who needed treatment remained in correctional facilities, while those under therapeutic confinement stayed in the hospital beyond their sentenced term, yet did not understand why they had to be there. Where did the beginning and end of treatment become blocked? Sisa Gijeok Chang traced the entire process, from the entrance of therapeutic confinement to treatment within the hospital, discharge reviews, and reintegration into society. ■ First Media Release of Internal Footage from the National Forensic Hospital As of June this year, there are 823 inpatients at the National Forensic Hospital. There are nine psychiatrists assigned to care for them. The reporting team followed ward rounds, ward life, and treatment processes inside the National Forensic Hospital to examine why the facility has reached its limits. Why are hospitals intended for treatment always at capacity? ■ Why Are Mentally Ill Individuals in Correctional Facilities? The number of mentally ill inmates in correctional facilities increased from 3,296 in 2016 to 6,180 as of June this year. Meanwhile, requests for therapeutic confinement decreased from 78 in 2021 to 42 last year, and stood at just seven in the first half of this year. What is happening at the threshold where those in need of treatment are sent to these facilities? ■ Cannot Leave Even After Sentences End Two out of every three inmates at the National Forensic Hospital were staying there after having already served their jointly sentenced terms. The reporting team met with members of the Therapeutic Confinement Review Committee, which decides on their discharge. What is actually considered during the discharge review process? Can they be released if their symptoms improve? ■ People Who Disappear After Discharge Leaving the hospital is not the end. If housing, outpatient treatment, and welfare services are not interconnected, the crisis begins anew. The reporting team visited local communities in Korea and judicial psychiatric facilities in Japan—specifically, treatment custody facilities—to examine how treatment is connected to the community. What is needed to prevent recidivism and facilitate reintegration into society? Is it prolonged confinement, or is it ensuring that treatment is not interrupted? Reporting: Baek In-seong Filming: Choi Man-yong Video Editing: Lee Jong-hwan Research: Lee Young-ju Assistant Director: Min Kyung-hee Broadcast: September 22, 2026, 10:00 PM, KBS 1TV Current Affairs Planning Window ▣ View Original KBS Article: http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?nc... ▣ Send a Tip ◇ KakaoTalk: Search 'KBS제보' ◇ Phone: 02-781-1234 ◇ Website: https://goo.gl/4bWbkG ◇ Email: [email protected] Copyright ⓒ KBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use (including AI learning) are prohibited. #CurrentAffairsPlanningWindow #CrimeAndIllness #TreatmentCustody #NationalForensicHospital #JudicialPsychiatricCare #MentalHealth #SocialReintegration #RecidivismPrevention