No Special Meals, Only Outdoor Exercise Allowed... Yoon's Seol Day Morning Includes 'Tteokguk and Gimjaban'

President Yoon to Spend Lunar New Year at Seoul Detention Center
No Special Meals or Family Visits Expected During the Holiday
Solitary Confinement and Security Measures Remain Unchanged

President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was detained on charges of leading a rebellion, will spend the Lunar New Year at Seoul Detention Center as the prosecution has sent him to trial. Since he is a detainee awaiting trial rather than a convicted prisoner with a finalized verdict, his treatment is expected to remain largely unchanged.

According to the legal community on the 26th, this year's Lunar New Year holiday will not include special meals or selected movies prepared by the correctional authorities, and only outdoor exercise time will be provided.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is seated after attending the 4th impeachment trial hearing held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Seoul Detention Center will broadcast live programs from four terrestrial channels through the internal rehabilitation broadcast TV in the inmates' living quarters during the Lunar New Year holiday. Inmates will also be given one opportunity for outdoor exercise during the holiday period. President Yoon, who is held in solitary confinement, is expected to have his movement and exercise times coordinated so as not to overlap with other inmates due to security concerns.

Special meals usually provided to inmates during holidays such as Lunar New Year or Chuseok are reportedly not available this year. President Yoon is expected to eat according to the regular detention center menu. The breakfast menu on Lunar New Year's Day includes rice cake soup (tteokguk), seasoned dried seaweed (gim jaban), and napa cabbage kimchi.

The possibility of visits from family members, including First Lady Kim Keon-hee, during the Lunar New Year holiday appears low. The Enforcement Decree of the Execution of Sentences Act stipulates that inmate visits must take place during working hours excluding public holidays. However, if the detention center director deems it specially necessary for the treatment of detainees, visits may be allowed outside the designated visiting hours.

Previously, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials had imposed restrictions on President Yoon, including a ban on visits and sending or receiving letters, but all these measures were lifted on the 24th, the day after the case was handed over to the prosecution. Since the prosecution has not imposed additional restrictions on visits or correspondence, President Yoon can now receive visits from family members other than his lawyers and receive letters.