For most people, prison is a place to escape from. For South Koreans in need of a break from the demands of everyday life, a day or two in a faux jail is the escape reut.rs/2S9z14G 📷 Kim Hong-Ji 
"This prison gives me a sense of freedom," said Park Hye-ri, a 28-year-old office worker who paid $90 to spend 24 hours locked up in a mock prison reut.rs/2S9z14G
The 'Prison Inside Me' facility in Hongcheon has hosted more than 2,000 inmates, many of them stressed office workers and students seeking relief from South Korea's demanding work and academic culture reut.rs/2S9z14G
"I was too busy," said Park as she sat in a cell. "I shouldn't be here right now, given the work I need to do. But I decided to pause and look back at myself for a better life" reut.rs/2S9z14G
Prison rules are strict. No talking with other inmates. No mobile phones or clocks. Clients get a blue prison uniform, a yoga mat, tea set, a pen and notebook. They sleep on the floor. There is a small toilet inside the room, but no mirror reut.rs/2S9z14G
The menu includes rice porridge for breakfast, and steamed sweet potato and a banana shake for dinner reut.rs/2S9z14G
Co-founder Noh Ji-Hyang said some customers are wary of spending 24 or 48 hours in a prison cell, until they try it: "After a stay in the prison, people say, 'This is not a prison, the real prison is where we return to'" reut.rs/2S9z14G
