According to The Korea Times Citing information from the Korean Ministry of Justice, President Yoon Suk Yeol must wear a green prison uniform, with a prisoner number attached to the chest, instead of the elegant suit he wore on January 15 after being arrested by prisoners. member of the Corruption Investigation Agency for Senior Officials (CIO) arrested at the presidential palace.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the detention center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi on January 15, 2025
Like other prisoners, Mr. Yoon also had to undergo a health check and have his photo taken for records. Mr. Yoon is the first sitting president in Korea to be issued an official arrest warrant.
It is unclear whether Mr. Yoon will have to wear a prison uniform and be handcuffed on the way to the CIO for questioning or to court for trial.
Considering security issues in the context of his being president, Mr. Yoon may be allowed to use another method to avoid media coverage, according to The Korea Times. Previously, two former presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak (arrested in 2017 and 2018 respectively) were allowed to wear plain clothes when being taken from prison to court.
According to the sheet Chosun (South Korea), President Yoon will be held incommunicado in a cell about 10 meters wide2. Mr. Yoon’s room is said to be equipped with a cabinet, sink, TV, desk and toilet. Because there was no bed, Mr. Yoon had to sleep on a mattress on the floor – where there was a heating system. Mr. Yoon is served meals in prison, like normal prisoners.
Regarding bathing, the Korean Ministry of Justice specifically allowed Mr. Yoon to bathe separately, not with other prisoners. Every day, Mr. Yoon is allowed to use the prison’s common yard for 1 hour, when all other prisoners have left.
However, the CIO only allowed President Yoon to meet with his personal lawyer, and prohibited South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee and his aides from visiting. The Presidential Security Service (PSS) still protects the presidential palace in Seoul and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
Even though he is detained, Mr. Yoon is still protected by PSS. However, the Ministry of Justice prohibited the PSS from protecting the president inside the detention center. When he needs to move out of the prison for investigation, he will use a prisoner transport vehicle instead of a guard vehicle. PSS will move around with their vehicle to protect the vehicle carrying Mr. Yoon.
