"Install Air Conditioning" Protests Surge at Seoul Detention Center… Yoon Suk-yeol Supporters Launch 'Civil Complaints Bomb'

Following the re-arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, a wave of protest complaints from his supporters has flooded the Seoul Detention Center.

As it became known that the former president is incarcerated in a solitary confinement cell without air conditioning amidst a heatwave, his supporters are directly calling and faxing the detention center to demand improvements in living conditions.

"Only a Fan in This Heat… Clear Violation of Human Rights" Claims

According to correctional authorities on the 13th, since the early morning of the 10th when former President Yoon was detained, some supporters have been sharing the contact information of the Seoul Detention Center, including phone numbers, faxes, and emails, through social media and online communities. They are filing complaints requesting the installation of air conditioning in the solitary confinement cell where the former president is held.

Posts in online communities highlight concerns such as, "Former President Yoon is living in a cell of just about 3 pyeong without air conditioning," and "In this nationwide heat advisory, providing only a fan is a violation of human rights and a threat to the right to life."

Some supporters are even sharing methods for sending faxes, claiming, "To confine someone in a solitary cell without air conditioning in this heat is political revenge and human rights oppression," and asserting that "we must inform the international community and condemn the human rights violations at the Seoul Detention Center." It has also been reported that the fax included a message stating, "We will give you a final opportunity to rectify this."

Seoul Detention Center Draws the Line, "Facility Information is a Security Matter"

The Seoul Detention Center has confirmed receiving protest calls and faxes from some supporters but has stated, "Information related to facilities and equipment is a security matter, so we cannot provide specific answers."

Former President Yoon was re-admitted to the Seoul Detention Center around 2 AM on the 10th, approximately 124 days after a warrant was issued for his arrest. His inmate number is "3617," and he has been assigned to a solitary cell of about 2 pyeong, which is smaller than the cells previously occupied by former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

Currently, it has been reported that there is no air conditioning installed in the general housing area where former President Yoon is detained, and only fans are operating in spaces other than the medical building. The detention center has explained that additional cooling facilities are practically difficult to install due to power issues and aging infrastructure.

Image source: Former President Yoon Suk-yeol / News1, unrelated stock photo / gettyimagesbank