Bukchang concentration camp
Encyclopedia
Bukchang concentration camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Pukch'ang) is a labor camp in North Korea
for political prisoners. It is sometimes called Tŭkchang concentration camp (Hangeul: , also Deukjang or Dukjang). The official name is Kwan-li-so (Penal-labor colony) No. 18.
and Tukchang district
, P'yŏngan-namdo province in North Korea
. It is situated along the middle reaches of Taedong
river, which forms the northern boundary of the camp, and also includes the mountains south of the river. On the other side of Taedong river adjoins Kaechon internment camp
(Kwan-li-so No. 14).
Bukchang camp is the oldest North Korean prison camp and was erected already in 1958. Like in Yodok camp
there is one section for political prisoners in lifelong detention and another part similar to reeducation camps. Possibly these section were completely separated earlier and therefore there are the two names Bukchang and Deukjang. While all the other political prison camps belong to the state security, Bukchang camp is run by the interior ministry. In some cases political prisoners were deported to Kaechon camp
, while their relatives (parents, children, siblings, grandchildren) were deported to Bukchang camp. Only based on their kinship they are classified as politically unreliable and are imprisoned without any lawsuit or conviction.
The camp is around 73 km² (28.2 sq mi) wide. There are several prison labor colonies with barracks for the prisoners and housing for the guards, for which they are called 4th division, 5th division and 6th division. Family members are often allowed to live together. Altogether around 50000 prisoners live in Bukchang concentration camp. Kim Yong even reported about foreign prisoners, but there is no other source to confirm this.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
for political prisoners. It is sometimes called Tŭkchang concentration camp (Hangeul: , also Deukjang or Dukjang). The official name is Kwan-li-so (Penal-labor colony) No. 18.
Location
The camp is located in Pukchang countyPukchang
Pukchang is a county of the province of South Pyongan in North Korea.In this county is the country's largest power station- Pukchang coal power station - with a production capacity of up to 1600 MW.-Administrative districts:...
and Tukchang district
Tukchang
Tukchang is an district of the province of South Pyongan in North Korea.Tukchang was established as its own administrative area after separating from Pukchang in 1995.-Administrative districts:...
, P'yŏngan-namdo province in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. It is situated along the middle reaches of Taedong
Taedong River
The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north. It then flows southwest into Korea Bay at Namp'o. In between, it runs through the country's capital, Pyongyang. Along the river are landmarks such as the Juche Tower and Kim Il-sung...
river, which forms the northern boundary of the camp, and also includes the mountains south of the river. On the other side of Taedong river adjoins Kaechon internment camp
Kaechon internment camp
Kaechon internment camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 14. It is not to be confused with Kaechon concentration camp Kaechon internment camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Kae'chŏn or Gaecheon) is a labor camp in North Korea for political...
(Kwan-li-so No. 14).
Description
According to the former leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea Hwang Jang-yopHwang Jang-yop
Hwang Jang-yop was a major politician in North Korea who defected to South Korea in 1997, making him to date the highest-ranking defector from the isolated state. He was largely responsible for crafting the Juche Idea, North Korea's official state ideology.-Early life and career:Hwang was born in...
Bukchang camp is the oldest North Korean prison camp and was erected already in 1958. Like in Yodok camp
Yodok concentration camp
Yodok concentration camp is a political prison camp in North Korea. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 15.-Location:...
there is one section for political prisoners in lifelong detention and another part similar to reeducation camps. Possibly these section were completely separated earlier and therefore there are the two names Bukchang and Deukjang. While all the other political prison camps belong to the state security, Bukchang camp is run by the interior ministry. In some cases political prisoners were deported to Kaechon camp
Kaechon internment camp
Kaechon internment camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 14. It is not to be confused with Kaechon concentration camp Kaechon internment camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Kae'chŏn or Gaecheon) is a labor camp in North Korea for political...
, while their relatives (parents, children, siblings, grandchildren) were deported to Bukchang camp. Only based on their kinship they are classified as politically unreliable and are imprisoned without any lawsuit or conviction.
The camp is around 73 km² (28.2 sq mi) wide. There are several prison labor colonies with barracks for the prisoners and housing for the guards, for which they are called 4th division, 5th division and 6th division. Family members are often allowed to live together. Altogether around 50000 prisoners live in Bukchang concentration camp. Kim Yong even reported about foreign prisoners, but there is no other source to confirm this.
Purpose
Bukchang camp shall isolate politically unreliable persons for lifetime from society. And it was established to exploit the people with hard and dangerous labor. Within the camp borders there are at least five coal mines, where all prisoners somehow capable have to work from early in the morning to late in the evening. Furthermore there is a cement factory and some other factories.Human Rights Situation
Bukchang is sometimes judged as a bit less horrible compared to other political prison camps. Still also in Bukchang camp many prisoners die of undernourishment, illness, work accidents and aftereffects of torture. Often there are summary executions as a deterrent in case of rule violations or escape attempts (Kim Yong witnessed 30 summary executions within three years).Prisoners (Witnesses)
- Kim Yong (1996 - 1998 in Bukchang) was at first imprisoned in Kaechon campKaechon internment campKaechon internment camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 14. It is not to be confused with Kaechon concentration camp Kaechon internment camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Kae'chŏn or Gaecheon) is a labor camp in North Korea for political...
, when his relationship (which he covered up) to his father and brother, who both were executed as alleged US spies, was identified. Later he was relocated to Bukchang after intervention of his former boss. - Kim Hye Sook (1975 – 2002 in Bukchang) was imprisoned at the age of 13 years, because her grandfather tried to escape to South Korea.
See also
- Human rights in North KoreaHuman rights in North KoreaThe human rights record of North Korea is extremely hard to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. The North Korean government makes it very difficult for foreigners to enter the country and strictly monitors their activities when they do...
- Kaechon internment campKaechon internment campKaechon internment camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 14. It is not to be confused with Kaechon concentration camp Kaechon internment camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Kae'chŏn or Gaecheon) is a labor camp in North Korea for political...
- Yodok concentration campYodok concentration campYodok concentration camp is a political prison camp in North Korea. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 15.-Location:...
External links
- Committee for Human Rights in North Korea – Overview on North Korean Prison Camps with Testimonies and Satellite Photographs
- The Daily NK: The Hub of North Korean News – Uncensored news directly from North Korea