By Ko Dong-hwan
Whether seeking redemption or revenge, former President Park Geun-hye now has plenty of time to think about things in a tiny prison cell while waiting for her indictment.
She became Korea's third leader to wear prisoners' garb after Seoul Central District Court at 3 a.m. Friday issued an arrest warrant for her on 13 charges, including bribery, coercion, abusing power and giving state secrets to an unauthorized person.
Under a cloudy sky and light rain, Park was taken to Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office next to the court shortly after the decision, and then taken on a 15-minute ride to Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.
The facility also houses other key suspects in the corruption scandal, including former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon, former Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.
Park's prison life began with an entrance screening, which verified her identity, a health check (including whether her anus was empty by having her sit on a lens-equipped seat), and a shower.
She was provided with daily necessities including a light-green uniform comprising a buttoned shirt and sweatpants, hygiene products, utensils, a pillow, toothpaste and a blanket.
Her uniform has a patch on the right side indicating her cell location. A patch on the left shows her prisoner number.
After the screening, Park was put into a 6.56-square meter cell with a toilet, a television, a foldable futon, a basin, a cabinet, a table and an electrically heated floor. Thanks to her former presidential title, she has avoided a group cell for six that is smaller than her cell.
She will have three meals a day according to a weekly dietary plan for prisoners. She had bread with ketchup and cheese for breakfast as her first meal. The facility prohibits food being brought in from outside.
Starting the next day, Park must follow a daily timetable that begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m.
Except for Sunday, she can exercise on an area outside her cell for 45 minutes every day. Because she has not yet been on trial or convicted, she does not have to work.
She can meet visitors once a day for no more than 30 minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Her lawyers can meet her with no time limit during this period.
Like other prisoners, Park can spend up to 3 million won ($2,670) a month on clothes, bedding items, medicine, books and other daily items. Spending on food is limited to 20,000 won a day.
As for her signature pin-up hairstyle that only her private hair stylists were allowed to put in place, she now has to rely on civic volunteers'giving her a basic free cut once a month.
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She became Korea's third leader to wear prisoners' garb after Seoul Central District Court at 3 a.m. Friday issued an arrest warrant for her on 13 charges, including bribery, coercion, abusing power and giving state secrets to an unauthorized person.
Under a cloudy sky and light rain, Park was taken to Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office next to the court shortly after the decision, and then taken on a 15-minute ride to Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.
The facility also houses other key suspects in the corruption scandal, including former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon, former Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.
Park's prison life began with an entrance screening, which verified her identity, a health check (including whether her anus was empty by having her sit on a lens-equipped seat), and a shower.
She was provided with daily necessities including a light-green uniform comprising a buttoned shirt and sweatpants, hygiene products, utensils, a pillow, toothpaste and a blanket.
Her uniform has a patch on the right side indicating her cell location. A patch on the left shows her prisoner number.
After the screening, Park was put into a 6.56-square meter cell with a toilet, a television, a foldable futon, a basin, a cabinet, a table and an electrically heated floor. Thanks to her former presidential title, she has avoided a group cell for six that is smaller than her cell.
She will have three meals a day according to a weekly dietary plan for prisoners. She had bread with ketchup and cheese for breakfast as her first meal. The facility prohibits food being brought in from outside.
Starting the next day, Park must follow a daily timetable that begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m.
Except for Sunday, she can exercise on an area outside her cell for 45 minutes every day. Because she has not yet been on trial or convicted, she does not have to work.
She can meet visitors once a day for no more than 30 minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Her lawyers can meet her with no time limit during this period.
Like other prisoners, Park can spend up to 3 million won ($2,670) a month on clothes, bedding items, medicine, books and other daily items. Spending on food is limited to 20,000 won a day.
As for her signature pin-up hairstyle that only her private hair stylists were allowed to put in place, she now has to rely on civic volunteers'giving her a basic free cut once a month.
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