Disgraced ex-president back in detention, sweating it out with no air conditioning

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol heads to a Korea Correctional Service vehicle after an arrest warrant review hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol began a fresh spell behind bars Thursday, returning to Seoul Detention Center just 124 days after his release. This time, he faces the sweltering summer heat while confined to a modest single cell without air conditioning.

Yoon was taken back into custody after the Seoul Central District Court issued a new arrest warrant, citing concerns over evidence tampering. His return as a pretrial detainee followed a nearly seven-hour hearing, after which he was transferred to a detention center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.

Upon arrival, he underwent standard identification procedures, surrendered his personal belongings and exchanged his suit for a light brown summer inmate uniform.

The compact cell, which now serves as Yoon’s temporary home, stands in stark contrast to his former official residence. The Hannam-dong property in central Seoul, once the official residence of the foreign minister, underwent months of renovation before Yoon and the first lady moved in around November 2022. The move sparked controversy over costs, with the presidential office initially citing a budget of 49.6 billion won. After being removed from office earlier this year, Yoon and his wife returned to their luxury apartment in southern Seoul.

His cell is a compact, one-room space measuring approximately 10 square meters. It is equipped with a television, a private toilet, a sink, a storage cabinet and a folding table for meals. He will sleep on the floor with a blanket, as the room has no bed.

Notably, the cell lacks air conditioning. Inmates rely on electric fans, which operate automatically and cannot be controlled individually. To help them cope with the sweltering weather conditions — daytime temperatures have soared to 37 degrees Celsius this week — the facility has distributed hand fans to all prisoners.

Yoon will be served meals that are identical to those served to other inmates. His first meal at the correctional facility — Thursday’s breakfast — featured mini cheese bread, steamed potatoes, mixed nuts and processed milk. Yoon is responsible for washing his own dishes.

Bathing and outdoor exercise are allowed in a shared facility, but to prevent incidents, his bathing and exercise times will be scheduled separately from other inmates. This is not a privilege but a precautionary measure, according to a correctional official.

Visits are limited to one per day, but may be further restricted due to concerns about potential evidence tempering. Meetings with his legal counsel can occur as needed during working hours in an air-conditioned room.

With the issuance of the new arrest warrant, Yoon’s presidential security detail was withdrawn.

His re-arrest makes him the first former Korean president to be detained, released and detained again. Prosecutors are expected to intensify investigations into his insurrection charges related to last December’s martial law declaration attempt.