"Braised Ribs, Seasoned Vegetables, Baekseolgi"... Yoon and Kim Spent Chuseok Separately in Detention, No Special Holiday Meals Provided

First Presidential Couple in Detention During a Holiday in Constitutional History
No Special Holiday Meals Provided... Only Donated Snacks Like Baekseolgi and Bananas

For the first time in the nation's constitutional history, a former president and first lady, both currently incarcerated, spent the holiday in separate detention centers at the same time. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol marked Chuseok at the Seoul Detention Center, while former First Lady Kim Keon-hee spent the holiday at the Seoul Southern Detention Center.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee delivering a national holiday greeting in hanbok attire through a video message on September 28, 2023. Presidential Office at the time.

According to legal sources on October 6, during this year's Chuseok holiday period, correctional authorities maintained their policy of not providing special holiday meals to inmates, instead allowing outdoor exercise time. It was reported that former President Yoon would be able to exercise on October 7, and Kim Keon-hee on October 8.

Attorney visits were restricted on public holidays, and October 4 was the only day during the holiday period when family members could visit in person.

The Chuseok breakfast served to former President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center consisted of a mini cheese bread, a boiled egg, mixed nuts, and soy milk. For lunch, inmates received tofu udon soup, braised pork ribs, seasoned pickled chili peppers, and napa cabbage kimchi. Dinner included beef radish soup, braised saury with kimchi, dried seaweed with dipping sauce, and fermented milk.

At the Seoul Southern Detention Center, where Kim Keon-hee is being held, breakfast included tofu kimchi soup, seasoned pickled vegetables, stir-fried seaweed flakes, and young radish kimchi. Lunch featured fermented soybean paste stew, a fried egg, seasoned vegetables, and radish salad, while dinner consisted of spicy beef soup, japchae, braised young radish in soybean paste, and napa cabbage kimchi.

The Korea Correctional Service announced that starting this year, the budget for special holiday meals has been cut, so no separate special meals are provided for Lunar New Year or Chuseok. They stated that such meals would resume if the budget is secured in the future. Instead, some snacks were provided through private donations. On October 2, Seoul Detention Center distributed baekseolgi rice cakes to inmates, while Seoul Southern Detention Center provided an apple, a banana, and a baekseolgi rice cake to each inmate.

Instead of on the holiday itself, small special meals are provided on National Foundation Day (October 3) and Hangeul Day (October 9). At Seoul Detention Center, roasted chestnuts and a slice of cake are served, while Seoul Southern Detention Center offers a coffee beverage, baked donuts, and yugwa (traditional Korean sweets). The special meal budget is set at no more than 1,700 won per person.

During the Chuseok holiday period, inmates are allowed to watch major terrestrial TV channels such as KBS1, MBC, SBS, and EBS1 from 9:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. On EBS1, special Chuseok films are scheduled, including "Back to the Future 2" on October 6, "Les Mis?rables" on October 7, and "In the Mood for Love" on October 8.

Former President Yoon was indicted as the ringleader of an insurrection, released once in March, but was re-detained on July 10 after the court accepted a detention warrant request from Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's team. Kim Keon-hee was also detained in August on charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act and Political Funds Act, as well as bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and is currently on trial.

This is the first time in the history of the Republic of Korea that a former president and spouse have been simultaneously detained and tried.

Meanwhile, Kim Keon-hee sent a Chuseok greeting to her supporters through her legal team. On October 3, attorney Yoo Jeonghwa conveyed Kim's message via Facebook: "Thank you always for your support. Without your letters and encouragement, I don't think I could have endured this long, dark tunnel. I hope you have a happy Chuseok. I will always pray for you as well."