"Leisurely Walking His Dog at Hangang Park on Children's Day"... Another Sighting of Yoon Sukyeol

Spotted at Hangang Park near Dongjak Bridge, not near his home
Walking with Saeromi, a retired guide dog

Former President Yoon Sukyeol was spotted walking his pet dog at Hangang Park, and the scene was uploaded online.

On May 5, an online community posted a photo and an eyewitness account of the former president, which was reportedly taken earlier that morning. The author wrote, "I saw the former president while I was out running," and added, "(Former President Yoon) was leisurely walking under Dongjak Bridge with a retriever and about three bodyguards."

Former President Yoon Sukyeol and his pet dog captured near Dongjak Bridge Hangang Park in Seoul on the 5th. Photo by online community capture

The accompanying photo shows former President Yoon, dressed in comfortable athletic wear, sitting and resting on what appears to be a bench at Hangang Park under Dongjak Bridge, holding his dog's leash in one hand. The dog with him appears to be Saeromi, a retired guide dog (Labrador Retriever) that Yoon adopted on Christmas Eve in 2022. Hangang Park under Dongjak Bridge is about a 10-minute drive from Yoon's residence at Acro Vista in Seocho-dong.

Some online users reacted negatively to the sighting. One user commented, "Dongjak Bridge isn't right in front of his house, so he must have gone out specifically for a walk." Another user wrote, "He keeps showing his face intentionally." They suggested that, ahead of the June 3 presidential election, Yoon was trying to demonstrate his presence to his hardline conservative supporters. Despite it being a Children's Day holiday when many people were expected to visit Hangang Park, Yoon was seen without a mask.

Former President Yoon, who is facing a criminal trial on charges including leading an insurrection, was removed from the official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu by a Constitutional Court decision and has been living at his private residence in Acro Vista since April 11. Since then, Yoon has been spotted several times. Photos of him walking through the underground shopping mall at Acro Vista with bodyguards have been posted online, and on April 20, a photo was released showing him dining with his impeachment trial attorneys Kim Gyeri and Bae Euicheol. On April 23, he was also seen having a meal with three companions at a barley rice restaurant in Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court is proceeding with the trial of former President Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection. After being indicted and detained, Yoon is now standing trial without detention following the court's decision to cancel his detention.