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Writer's pictureOrion Intel

Korea Future's North Korea Prison Database

Updated: Aug 20


Starting from October 2021, I worked with Korea future a non-profit, non-governmental organization investigating human rights violations in North Korea on their North Korea Prison Database Project which offers users access to a comprehensive and growing archive of violations of international law that have transpired in the North Korean penal system.



The North Korean Prison Database identifies 597 perpetrators linked to 5,181 human rights violations committed against 785 detainees in 148 penal facilities.


Work on this project was done in 3 Phases, With a Penal facility being highlighted in every phase. The first phase focused on a Detention facility in Onsong. The Second Phase highlighted a facility in North Hamgyong province while the third phase focused on a facility in Ryanggang.


Prison cells inside Onsong MPS

Reconstructing all of these detention facilities involved making memory based diagrams from ex detainees. These diagrams were then used with Satellite imagery to create accurate models of these facilities and depict the various violations that take place inside them.




Officer beating a detainee in Onsong MPS

Cavity search being conducted in North Hamgyong MSS

Exterior of North Hamgyong MSS

Cornfield near North Hamgyong

Interior of Ryanggang MPS

All 3 Detention Facilities can be Explored Interactively on Sketchfab.


I also helped create explainer video's and documentaries which highlight tell stories about the facilities and the inhumane conditions that detainees are housed in.





The North Korea Detention Project has been featured several times in news media. Some Notable mentions are:

Onsong MPS was featured in an piece on the BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60870739.amp The Facility at North Hamgyong has been covered by CNN



Ryanggang MSS was highlighted in an article by NRC








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