List of female inmates for paid pen-pal service draws backlash

Service reportedly connects female inmates with men inside and outside prison for 70,000 won

A company offering a paid pen-pal matching service connecting men with female prison inmates has drawn attention in South Korea after a purported list of participating women circulated online.

The list, the authenticity of which has not been independently verified, includes the names, ages and correctional facilities of purported female inmates. It says a match costs 70,000 won ($50) and comes with three guaranteed letters.

It also provides personal details that include height, weight, blood type and MBTI personality type, along with descriptions of the women's appearance, body type and personality. Some are described as "glamorous" or "quiet at first but outgoing once you get to know her."

According to local media reports, the service is available to both male inmates at other prisons and men outside prison. Customers can specify their preferred age, remaining prison term, appearance and personality. The company then matches them with a female inmate who meets their criteria. Sexual content in letters can reportedly also be requested.

The company, which reportedly initially provided delivery and other services for inmates, is said to have expanded into pen-pal matching after seeing demand for correspondence between male and female prisoners.

Inmates are legally allowed to exchange letters. Prisoners are also generally permitted to correspond with people outside prison, subject to correctional rules.

Yet the service has prompted online discussion about the commercialization of correspondence involving inmates, particularly the use of detailed personal and physical profiles to facilitate matches. It was not immediately clear whether the women listed had consented to their profiles being used for the service.

“Many male and female inmates write to each other,” a correctional officer at Cheongju Women’s Prison said on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block” in July. The officer said some letters had even contained body hair or bodily fluids.