Song Young-gil Says "Yoon Receiving Preferential Treatment in Less Hot Second Floor Cell" While He Endured Hottest Third Floor

Released on Bail in June, Song Young-gil Responds to Shin Pyung's Claims After Visiting Yoon
"Absurd"
"Park Geun-hye, Whom He Detained, Was Held Under the Same Conditions"

Attorney Shin Pyung publicly revealed the living conditions of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center, and claimed that this constitutes "harsh political retaliation and a violation of human rights." In response, Song Young-gil, leader of the Sonamoo Party, dismissed these claims as "absurd." On the 28th, Song stated on social media that "the person who made countless people shed tears of blood by abusing prosecutorial power and conducting unrelated investigations is now whining after only a few months of detention. It is pathetic."

Song Younggil, representative of Sonamudang (former leader of the Democratic Party), appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in 2023 for a summons investigation. Photo by Asia Economy

Song continued, "After meeting with former President Yoon, Attorney Shin claimed that he urged intervention from the United States and other countries to prevent uncivilized and barbaric human rights abuses resulting from harsh political retaliation against a former president." Song added, "When Yoon Suk-yeol was a special prosecutor, he detained Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, as well as Song Young-gil, Cho Kuk, and others, all under the same conditions. Still, both Park Geun-hye and Yoon Suk-yeol are in a space of about 10.6 square meters (3.20 pyeong), which is typically shared by four general inmates and is located on the less hot second floor. They are receiving preferential treatment."

He further argued, "While four general inmates endure the heat together, Yoon is receiving special treatment," and added, "I spent 11 months in a 6.7 square meter (2 pyeong) cell, on the coldest and hottest third floor, enduring both the cold and the heat." He went on, "Calling for U.S. intervention? That is beyond comprehension. Calling it a living hell? For the ringleader of a rebellion, it is a facility that feels like paradise." He also pointed out, "Claiming that reading the Bible is the only intellectual activity allowed? You can read three different newspapers, watch TV, and bring in as many books as you want to read."

Song, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for illegal political fund charges and was taken into custody in January last year, has been standing trial without detention since being granted bail this June.

Attorney Shin Pyung and former President Yoon Sukyeol. Facebook

Earlier, Attorney Shin, known as a political mentor to former President Yoon, wrote on social media on the night of the 27th, "On July 25, I visited former President Yoon Suk-yeol in my capacity as an attorney," and "I heard truly shocking and heartbreaking stories from him."

According to Shin, former President Yoon is being held in a solitary cell of approximately 1.8 pyeong (about 6 square meters) at the Seoul Detention Center. Inside the cell, there is not even a desk or chair?only a cardboard stand on which he places his Bible, which is his only intellectual activity. Shin stated, "He eats while crouched, can barely exercise, and told me he is experiencing digestive problems as a result. When he lies down at night, there is no room to move at all. This dreadful living environment is, in a word, 'Hell on the Earth.'"

Shin added, "Even former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak did not endure conditions this severe," and argued that "this is an environment fit to realize the curse uttered by Democratic Party floor leader Kim Byung-ki, who said, 'Even if he dies, he should die in prison.'" He continued, "This is part of harsh political retaliation against a former president," and "I earnestly appeal to the United States and Western countries, which have valued human rights, to stop these uncivilized and barbaric human rights abuses."