Yoon's Security Service as "Royal Taster"? Poison Tests Conducted on Every Meal in Detention Center

Security Service Denied Access to Kitchen for Poison Tests
Received Meals in Sealed Containers and Conducted Checks Directly
Screen Installed on Cell Window, Partition Built in Corridor... Controversy Over Special Privileges

It has been reported that when former President Yoon Suk-yeol was detained at Seoul Detention Center during his presidency, the Presidential Security Service conducted poison tests on his food at every meal. The detention center is also said to have taken special measures at the request of the security service, such as installing a screen on the window of Yoon's solitary cell and vacating the surrounding cells.

Yoon Suk-yeol's "Royal Taster" Security Service... Poison Tests at Every Meal

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was the People Power Party's presidential candidate in 2022, eating food at Gunsan Public Market in Gunsan City, Jeonbuk. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to a report by Hankyoreh on the 1st and information confirmed by Assemblywoman Park Eunjeong's office from the Ministry of Justice's correctional authorities, the security service received Yoon's meals from Seoul Detention Center in sealed packaging and conducted poison tests on every meal during his detention from January to March this year.

At the time, the security service requested to carry out poison tests inside the kitchen of the detention center, but when this was denied, they instead received the food in sealed containers. After the security service checked the food for any signs of poisoning and delivered it to the detention center, correctional officers verified that no other food had been added to the container before serving it to former President Yoon.

Installation of Screen in Solitary Cell and Vacating Surrounding Cells... "Unprecedented Privilege"

Seoul Detention Center also complied with the security service's request to install a screen on the window facing the corridor in Yoon's solitary cell and vacated three adjacent cells. Both cells on either side of Yoon's cell were left empty, and the remaining cell was occupied around the clock by a dedicated security team assigned to Yoon. In addition, a plywood partition was installed in the corridor adjacent to Yoon's cell to separate his area from other inmates. Furthermore, whenever Yoon left his cell for court appearances or meetings, he reportedly used a private entrance not accessible to other inmates.

Assemblywoman Park Eunjeong criticized, "It has been confirmed that government officials from the security service personally tasted and checked every meal of a detainee accused of leading a rebellion. Can the public really accept the kind of privilege granted exclusively to Yoon Suk-yeol, which no other inmate could even imagine?"

Former President Yoon was re-arrested on July 10 on charges of leading a rebellion. He had previously been released on March 8, four months after a detention warrant was issued by the Seoul Western District Court on January 19, but is now back in custody.