South Korea's Ministry of Justice posted a video on 10/6 titled "First disclosure of the former president's detention location in Seoul Detention Center" on its official YouTube channel 법무부TV (Ministry of Justice TV). The release aims to clarify conditions following public speculation about former president Yoon Suk-yeol's confinement.
The single cell shown in the video measures 6,76 square meters, including a toilet. It offers barely enough space for one adult male to lie down stretched out. Inside the cell, an electric fan, a small shelf for personal belongings, and an instruction board listing basic rules for detainees are visible.
Inside the single cell at Seoul Detention Center, where former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol is held. Video: YouTube/법무부TV
According to the Ministry of Justice, single cells are allocated to inmates requiring separate management based on the detention facility's criteria, not solely for health or behavioral reasons. These cells are managed independently, and inmates are not permitted to move to other cells without authorization.
"Behind bars, there are no exceptions, regardless of how much a person has stirred public opinion," the Ministry of Justice emphasized. "This facility operates on principles, not privileges."
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Inside the single cell at Seoul Detention Center, where former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol is held. Screenshot from 법무부TV
The South Korean government released the video after a YouTube channel raised suspicions that the former president was allowed to open and use three cells at will, and had two dedicated cleaners serving him. The Ministry of Justice refuted this information, stating, "Mr. Yoon currently uses only one single cell, similar in size to a regular inmate's cell, and has no dedicated cleaners."
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Former president Yoon Suk-yeol listens to his sentence at a court hearing on 16/1. Photo: Yonhap
Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on 3/12/2024, citing threats from North Korea and accusing the National Assembly of being "anti-state forces." The decree was rejected by the National Assembly within hours, as lawmakers bypassed a military blockade to vote for its nullification. The subsequent crisis led to Mr. Yoon's arrest, impeachment, and life imprisonment on charges of "leading a rebellion."
Duc Trung (According to Yonhap, Chosun, Korea JoongAng Daily)
