President Yoon Suk Yeol is being held in solitary confinement.

The life of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in prison has attracted public attention after the Seoul West District Court issued an official arrest warrant on January 19th, ordering his temporary detention for a maximum of 20 days.

According to The Korea Times , citing information from the South Korean Ministry of Justice , President Yoon Suk Yeol had to wear a green prisoner uniform with a prisoner number pinned to his chest, instead of the formal suit he wore on January 15th after being arrested by officers from the Central Office for Investigating Corruption of High-Ranking Officials (CIO) at the presidential residence.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited a detention center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi on January 15, 2025.

Like other prisoners, Mr. Yoon also had to undergo a medical examination and have his photo taken for record-keeping. Mr. Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korea to have an official arrest warrant issued against him.

It is unclear whether Mr. Yoon will be wearing a prison uniform and handcuffed on his way to the CIO for questioning or to court for trial.

Considering security concerns in the context of his presidency, Yoon may be allowed to use another method to avoid media attention, according to The Korea Times . Previously, two former presidents, Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak (arrested in 2017 and 2018 respectively), were allowed to wear civilian clothes when being transported from prison to court.

According to the South Korean newspaper Chosun , President Yoon will be held in solitary confinement in a cell approximately 10 square meters ⁱⁿ size. His cell is reportedly equipped with a wardrobe, sink, television, desk, and toilet. Because there is no bed, he will sleep on a mattress on the floor, which has a heating system. He will be served meals in prison, like other inmates.

Regarding bathing, the South Korean Ministry of Justice granted Mr. Yoon special permission to bathe separately, not with other prisoners. Each day, Mr. Yoon was allowed to use the prison's common yard for one hour, after all the other prisoners had left.

However, the CIO only allowed President Yoon to meet with his private lawyer and prohibited First Lady Kim Keon Hee and his aides from visiting him. The Presidential Security Service (PSS) continues to protect the presidential residence in Seoul and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

Despite being detained, President Yoon was still protected by the PSS. However, the Ministry of Justice prohibited the PSS from protecting the president inside the detention center. When he needed to travel outside the detention center for investigation purposes, he would use a prisoner transport vehicle instead of a vehicle provided by the presidential guard. The PSS would then travel around in their own vehicles to protect President Yoon's vehicle.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-yoon-suk-yeol-bi-biet-giam-185250120124500195.htm