SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been formally detained following the issuance of a detention warrant on January 19, 2025, making him the first sitting president to be arrested as he faces allegations of insurrection.
Yoon is expected to be moved to a solitary cell measuring approximately 3 square meters at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.
According to legal sources, President Yoon had been held in a temporary holding room for detainees since his arrest by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) on January 15.
With the approval of the detention warrant, Yoon now assumes the status of a pretrial detainee and will undergo the standard intake procedures for official incarceration.
Given that the warrant was issued at 2:50 a.m., Yoon’s formal processing is anticipated to occur after 9 a.m. This includes being assigned an inmate number, undergoing a detailed physical examination, and changing into a khaki-colored uniform designated for pretrial detainees.
He will also have a mugshot taken—a procedure he bypassed during his initial detainment due to his pre-arrest status.
Following the intake process, Yoon will be transferred to a solitary cell, although there is a possibility he may be placed in a larger room depending on availability. Historically, former South Korean presidents detained at correctional facilities have been held in similarly sized cells.
Seoul Detention Center (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Former President Park Geun-hye, arrested in March 2017, occupied a 3.04-square-meter modified cell, while former President Lee Myung-bak was held in a 3.95-square-meter cell in March 2018.
Yoon’s cell reportedly contains basic amenities, including a storage cabinet, sink, television, multifunctional desk, dining utensils, and a toilet. There is no bed; instead, bedding is provided for sleeping on the heated floor.
Shower facilities are communal, but Yoon is expected to use them separately from other inmates to ensure security. Similarly, his daily exercise, limited to one hour, will be scheduled to avoid contact with other detainees.
Public attention is also focused on the potential visitation of First Lady Kim Keon-hee. Standard visitation at the Seoul Detention Center is permitted once daily, though meetings with legal counsel can occur frequently during working hours.
Visitors must submit an online application specifying the desired date and time. Given security concerns, Yoon’s visits are likely to take place in a separate area, subject to approval by a warden’s meeting.
Presidential security will continue as before, limited to the detention center’s outer perimeter. For external transfers related to investigations, Yoon will be transported in standard correctional vehicles rather than official security transport.
Yoon’s meals will align with the standard menu for detainees. On January 19, the breakfast menu included dumpling soup, seasoned dried radish strips, and napa cabbage kimchi.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
