Yoon Suk-yeol Former President's Incarceration Related Justice Ministry, Replacement of Seoul Detention Center Head, and Suspension of Privileged Visits
The Justice Ministry has replaced the head of Seoul Detention Center where former President Yoon Suk-yeol is incarcerated.
The Justice Ministry announced on the previous day that it would carry out a personnel change, transferring Kim Hyun-woo from the head of Seoul Detention Center to the head of Anyang Correctional Facility, and appointing Kim Do-hyung from Suwon Detention Center as the new head of Seoul Detention Center, effective on the 18th.
The Justice Ministry explained this personnel change by stating, "It was made based on the judgment that personnel renewal is necessary regarding various issues raised about the treatment of former President Yoon during his incarceration." It also emphasized, "We will make our utmost efforts for strict law enforcement, including fair incarceration management without any favoritism."
Change in Treatment of Former President Yoon in Detention Center
Along with the replacement of the head, the Justice Ministry also suspended the use of a private attorney meeting room provided to former President Yoon from the same day. Consequently, former President Yoon must now meet with his attorney in the same location as general inmates.
However, it has been confirmed that for the maintenance of order within the facility, exercise and showering will continue to be separated from general inmates.
Justice Minister Jeong Seung-ho explained the background of this measure through Facebook, stating, "This is a measure to correct the improper behavior of using the attorney meeting room as a private lounge for extended periods under the pretext of attorney visits while refusing all legal procedures like investigations and trials." He noted that this measure also applies similarly to Kim Geon-hee, who is incarcerated in Southern Detention Center.
Minister Jeong emphasized, "The Ministry of Justice will take corresponding measures against a suspect who disregards their dignity as a former president and mocks the national judicial order by deploying all kinds of legal technicalities," stressing that "All citizens are equal before the law."
Failed Special Investigation Indictments and Controversy over Privileges
This measure seems to have been prompted by criticisms in the political arena regarding former President Yoon receiving preferential treatment in detention, following several failed attempts by the special investigation team to forcibly summon him.
The Democratic Party’s Special Committee for Comprehensive Responses to the Three Major Special Investigations revealed on the 1st that former President Yoon had met with 348 people for a total of 395 hours and 18 minutes during his entire incarceration at Seoul Detention Center.
The committee also protested at Seoul Detention Center on the 11th and 31st of last month, urging that punitive measures could be enforced within the detention center if the execution of the arrest warrant is refused.
Image source: Yoon Suk-yeol Former President / News1
