"‘Not Even Served in the Military’: Heated Debate Over 'Luxury Meals' at Seoul Detention Center"

Seoul Detention Center Meal Plan Revealed on Online Community
Currently Housing Inmates Including Kang Ho-soon and Yoo Young-chul at Seoul Detention Center

Chadol Jjamppong Soup, Fried Dumplings, Corn Salad, Curry Rice, Chuncheon Dakgalbi, Potato Chicken Soup, Beef Vegetable Porridge….

These menus are actually served at Seoul Detention Center, where death row inmates were recently transferred to one location. As the menu spread rapidly through online communities and social networking services (SNS), heated debates arose among netizens.

Diet of Seoul Nambu Prison released in 2014. Not directly related to the article content.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 20th, a post titled "Seoul Detention Center Menu" was uploaded on online communities and SNS. The post included a photo of the "December Inmate Food Menu" board.

Meal plan of Seoul Detention Center in December 2023.
Photo by Online Community

The menu board, dated December 2023, organizes the three meals?breakfast, lunch, and dinner?provided over one week. The main dishes include ▲Beef Bone Soup ▲Green Onion Yukgaejang ▲Dumpling Soup ▲Pork Garlic Jangjorim ▲Beef Seaweed Soup ▲Grilled Short Rib Patties ▲Soup ▲Curry Rice ▲Rice Cake Soup ▲Spicy Braised Chicken ▲Beef Vegetable Porridge ▲Chadol Jjamppong Soup ▲Beef Radish Soup ▲Cereal ▲Pork Bean Sprout Bulgogi ▲Beef Hangover Soup ▲Vienna Sausage in Ketchup, among others.

Netizens who saw the menu expressed negative reactions such as "They eat better than people living alone," "They eat more nutritiously than I do," "Is the prison a cafeteria?" "My taxes are wasted," and "They'll come out fatter, not rehabilitated."

On the other hand, some netizens responded, "Even if they committed crimes in the past, they are human and need to eat to live," and "People who complain about food are the worst. Whatever they eat is their freedom."

Outrage Over Police and Military Meals Being Worse Than Detention Center Food

On the 5th, the breakfast menu of Seoul OO Police Station was posted on the anonymous online community for office workers, 'Blind.' [Photo by Online Community 'Blind']

The controversy arose because the poor quality of meals served in police and military cafeterias recently came to light.

Earlier on the 5th, an anonymous office worker posted on the community "Blind" a post titled "Breakfast Menu at Seoul ○○ Police Station."

The author, Mr. A, wrote, "The price is 5,000 won, and nothing is missing," adding, "Everyone, eat breakfast and stay strong." The attached photo showed two morning buns filled with potato salad, along with stick-type strawberry jam and soup without any solid ingredients. This was the entire breakfast meal.

Since Mr. A said nothing was missing, it is inferred that the food tray in the photo represents the full portion served for breakfast. Considering the rising prices, it is hard to see this as a 5,000 won meal from a police station cafeteria.

Mr. A also added, "Employees working at this station are forced to purchase meal tickets every month."

A lunchbox provided by the Army to soldiers quarantined due to COVID-19.
[Photo by Facebook page 'Yukgun Hunryeonso Daesin Jeonhaedeurimnida']

In July, there was public outrage over a military unit providing "poor meals" to soldiers quarantined due to COVID-19 infection. Mr. B, who posted the story, said, "My younger sibling tested positive for COVID-19 and had to stay in quarantine for five days," attaching a photo of the meal tray his sibling received.

The photo showed two pieces of Donggeurangttaeng (Korean meat patties), two slices of grilled ham, and some kimchi as side dishes.

Mr. B said, "I enlisted in early 2021 and was discharged last year. When I was quarantined for COVID-19 during my service, similar meals were served. At the time, I thought 'I have to endure it because I am a soldier,' but I believe my sibling should not be treated like this."

He continued, "I hope those reading this, whether you have served in the military or are currently serving, and parents with children, will agree that such (poor meal) treatment is unacceptable."

Meanwhile, Seoul Detention Center houses inmates such as Yoo Young-cheol, sentenced to death but not yet executed for the serial murder of 21 women including his wife in September; Jeong Hyeong-gu, who shot a newlywed couple in his car for overtaking his vehicle; Kang Ho-soon, who killed 10 women; and Jeong Doo-young, who killed nine people.