Mug Shot, Solitary Cell For South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and detained over insurrection charges, spent his first night as a criminal suspect in a solitary cell at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, officials confirmed Monday.
Yoon was arrested last week during a pre-dawn raid, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be detained in a criminal probe. The charges stem from his controversial martial law declaration on December 3, which was overturned within six hours by lawmakers who subsequently impeached him.
After a court approved his formal arrest warrant on Sunday, citing concerns he might destroy evidence, Yoon transitioned from temporary detention to a criminal suspect awaiting indictment and trial.
Shin Yong-hae, Commissioner General of the Korea Correctional Service, confirmed Yoon was assigned to a 12-square-meter (129-square-foot) cell, a standard accommodation typically housing five to six inmates. The room includes a small table, shelf, sink, toilet, and restricted television access.
Prison regulations require Yoon to wear a khaki prison uniform and follow standard protocols, including taking a mugshot and undergoing a physical examination.
“Inmates are permitted an hour of daily exercise and a weekly shower,” Shin noted. However, to ensure Yoon does not interact with other inmates, authorities have arranged additional security measures. His personal security detail will accompany him whenever he leaves his cell.
Yoon’s martial law declaration in December triggered widespread political unrest. While lawmakers voted it down and impeached him, his impeachment awaits a decision by the Constitutional Court. Simultaneously, he faces a criminal investigation for insurrection, for which he has vehemently denied wrongdoing, calling the probe illegal.
Despite resisting arrest for weeks and vowing to “fight to the end,” Yoon now faces mounting legal battles.
The arrest has ignited violent protests from Yoon’s supporters. On Sunday, after his detention was extended, hundreds of demonstrators stormed a Seoul court building, causing significant damage.
According to police, protesters threw glass bottles, rocks, and chairs, with around 100 individuals breaching the court premises, smashing windows, and vandalizing property. The riot left 51 police officers injured, including some with head injuries and fractures.
Dozens of protesters, including YouTube streamers, were arrested, police reported.
Yoon declined to attend questioning on Monday, his lawyers stated, while the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), overseeing the probe, has suggested a “forced summons” if he refuses to cooperate.
The unfolding events mark an unprecedented chapter in South Korea’s political and judicial history, with the nation watching closely as Yoon’s legal and constitutional trials proceed.