Yoon Meets Staff: "This Is Also a Place Where People Live... We Are Doing Well" (Comprehensive)

"Asked Whether the Medical System Functioned Well During the Holiday"

On the morning of the 31st, when the ban on general public visits to President Yoon Seok-yeol was lifted, a signboard reading "Visitation" was placed at the entrance of Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

Jung Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, and senior aides met with President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center, on the morning of the 31st.

A presidential office official said in a phone call with Asia Economy on the same day, "Chief of Staff Jung and Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, are scheduled to meet President Yoon today," adding, "Since general visits are allowed only once a day, it is understood that some senior aides at the level of senior secretaries or above are accompanying him as a priority."

According to the presidential office, Chief of Staff Jung, National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho, Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Joo-hyun, and Deputy Chief of Staff Kang Ui-gu visited Seoul Detention Center and met with President Yoon from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.

The meeting was conducted in a separated visitation area, isolated from other inmates.

This was the first general visit since President Yoon was incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center.

Chief of Staff Jung had previously expressed his intention to visit President Yoon in detention through the media. It is known that he conveyed to those around him that it was his duty to visit given the hardships President Yoon was enduring in the detention center.

A senior presidential office official said, "The President is healthy and maintaining a composed attitude," adding, "President Yoon emphasized that since the presidential office is the center of state affairs, no one should be discouraged and everyone should do their best in their respective positions."

He continued, "He asked whether the medical system functioned well during the holiday and whether elderly people experienced any discomfort," adding, "President Yoon said this is also a place where people live and that he is doing well."

Earlier, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) lifted the ban on general visits to President Yoon on the 24th, but general visits were restricted during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

Starting with the presidential office aides' visit on this day, President Yoon is expected to continue receiving general visits from ruling party officials and others.

It is reported that First Lady Kim Geon-hee will not visit the detention center for the time being to see President Yoon due to health reasons.