Kwalliso

Kwalliso (Korean: 관리소; Hanja: 管理所, Korean pronunciation: [kwaɭɭisʰo]) or kwan-li-so (sometimes known as political prison camp, political labor camp, or concentration camp) is the term for political penal labor and death camps in North Korea. They are the most severe punishment in the country besides capital punishment, and have been described as concentration camps.

They constitute one of three forms of political imprisonment in the country, the other two being "short-term detention/forced-labor centers" and "long-term prison labor camps", for misdemeanor and felony offenses respectively, according to the US-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. As of 2026 there are at least four kwalliso facilities in operation, with the largest being Hwasong.

Durations of imprisonment are variable. However, many are condemned to labor for their whole life. Forced labor duties within kwalliso typically include work in mines (known examples including coal, gold, and iron ore), tree felling, timber cutting, or agricultural duties. Furthermore, camps contain state run prison farms and furniture manufacturing.

Estimates suggest that at the start of 2007, a total of six kwalliso camps were operating within the country. Despite fourteen kwalliso camps originally operating within North Korea, these later merged or were closed following the reallocation of prisoners.