Content and service time of a sentence commuted to community service


Offender who is convicted of an offense that carries a maximum principal punishment of not more than five years’ imprisonment or below, and is sentenced to imprisonment for not more than six months, detention or a fine may have his/her imprisonment commuted to community service at a conversion rate of six hours for one day of imprisonment. The scope of community services focuses mainly on public welfare services such as services for the community and for the disadvantaged. The Prosecutors Offices select the community service execution institutions from among local governmental departments (or agencies), communities, public welfare organizations or groups. The execution institutions review the local needs and supervise community service undertakers for providing the services. Content of service includes various unpaid labor or services for public interest such as cleaning and care, care for the disadvantaged, environmental and ecological protection, traffic safety, … etc.


Punishment commuted to community service may be converted at a rate of six hours’ service for one day of imprisonment. The service must be completed within a time specified by the prosecutor. Service hours are basically from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but service may be performed during night time or at dawn (i.e., service may be performed 24 hours a day) with the execution institution’s and the community service undertaker’s consent. Service time should not exceed 8 hours in a day basically, but may be extended to a maximum of 12 hours.