---
title: "Kyo-hwa-so No. 77, Danchon: North Korea Prison Camp Dossier | Save North Korea"
description: "Kyo-hwa-so No. 77, Danchon (Prison (kyohwaso)): Reported closed. Located in South Hamgyong Province. It is believed that Kyo-hwa-so No. 77, Danchon was closed around 1997. However, the locations identified here appear to be in operation.  Type of prisoners: Men, political prisoners, genuine criminal offenders, border crossers Type of Labor: Gold mining This location is not yet confirmed. It has been listed in NKDB reports as well as identified in prisoner testimony. There is no further information about its current state of operation. A second location associated with this camp is located in Sa"
url: "https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/kyohwaso-77-danchon"
language: en
translations:
  en: https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/kyohwaso-77-danchon
  ko: https://savenorthkorea.org/ko/camps/kyohwaso-77-danchon
  ja: https://savenorthkorea.org/ja/camps/kyohwaso-77-danchon
  zh-Hans: https://savenorthkorea.org/zh/camps/kyohwaso-77-danchon
---

[Prison camps](https://savenorthkorea.org/camps) · South Hamgyong Province

Prison · kyohwaso 

# Kyo-hwa-so No. 77, Danchon

77호 단천 교화소

Located near Danchon in South Hamgyong Province, this facility supported heavy mineral mining before being decommissioned in structural penal reorganizations.

**Unknown** prisoners no reliable published estimate 

**Closed** Reported closed 

**Social Security** run by 

Tanchon City · South Hamgyong

Kyo-hwa-so No. 77, Danchon · 40.4376°N, 128.8992°E [Google Maps ↗](https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4376,128.899183333333,15z/data=!3m1!1e3) · Imagery © Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics 

[ Open on the intel map](https://savenorthkorea.org/map#camps=camp-23)[ Tanchon City county](https://savenorthkorea.org/counties/tanchon)[ How the camp system works](https://savenorthkorea.org/learn/north-korea-prison-camps)

## Who is held here

- Men
- Political prisoners
- Genuine criminal offenders
- Border crossers

## Forced labor

- Gold mining

## How well documented

1. Satellite imagery
2. Listed by NKDB / KINU
3. Survivor testimony

## Also known as

HRNK ties one more site to this facility.

## Why people end up here

Kyohwaso hold people sentenced through the regular courts. Sentences are set in years, but hunger, beatings and heavy labor kill many before release. Common charges:

- Illegal trading
- Smuggling across the border
- Watching foreign media
- Trying to escape to China

## Sources

- [**HRNK prison camp map** hrnk.org ↗ ](https://www.hrnk.org/)
- [**UN Commission of Inquiry (2014)** ohchr.org ↗ ](https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/co-idprk/commission-inquiry-on-h-rin-dprk)

## Other facilities in South Hamgyong Province

- [ © Esri, Maxar **Camp 15, Yodok** Political prison camp · Reported closed or downsized, disputed ](https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/kwanliso-15)
- [ © Esri, Maxar **Kyo-hwa-so No. 9, Hamhung** Prison · Operating (per HRNK) ](https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/kyohwaso-9-hamhung)
- [ © Esri, Maxar **Facility at I-gol** Political prison camp · Operating (per HRNK) ](https://savenorthkorea.org/camps/facility-at-i-gol)