SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Robot guards will soon begin patrolling local correctional facilities to reduce their human counterparts' workload, particularly at nighttime, the Justice Ministry said Thursday.

Under the 1 billion won (US$864,080) project organized by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, a group of Korean scientists has been developing robot prison guards, which will be tasked with patrolling correctional facilities, mostly at nighttime, and connecting prisoners with officers through their remote conversation function, the ministry said.