"Yoon's health is not so bad that he cannot be investigated" Seoul Detention Center

[Financial News]  The Seoul Detention Center announced on the 31st that former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is in custody, is not refusing special prosecutor summons due to health reasons, stating, "It is judged that his health condition has not deteriorated to the extent that he cannot be investigated."
The medical director of the Seoul Detention Center responded to a question at the onsite inspection of the Democratic Party's 'Special Committee for Comprehensive Response to the 3 Major Special Prosecutors' on whether former President Yoon Seok-yeol has health issues that prevent him from being investigated, saying, "I cannot give a clear answer as I cannot know all personal and subjective symptoms, but it seems there are no major issues in attending investigations or trials."
The medical director added, "I cannot know all personal and subjective symptoms, so it is difficult to give a clear answer," but also said, "It seems there are no major issues in attending investigations or trials."
On this day, the special committee members, including Democratic Party's Jeon Hyun-hee and Kim Byung-joo, visited the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province, to inquire about the refusal of former President Yoon to attend the special prosecutor's summons and various preferential treatment allegations raised by some.
Kim Hyun-woo, the head of the Seoul Detention Center, said, "It is not because he is a former president that he was not forcibly brought in," adding, "We notified him according to procedure and persuaded him to attend through interviews several times, instructing the staff to bring him in, but he has stubbornly refused."
Regarding the criticism that former President Yoon is not being properly forcibly brought in, he explained, "(In the case of former President Yoon) there are no criteria or legal procedures applicable for correctional officers to use force," and "Force can only be exercised in cases to respond to incidents such as ensuring prison safety or order, protecting inmates' lives, or preventing self-harm."
Kim also revealed that there are many inmates who refuse to be brought in like former President Yoon, saying, "(In such situations) we only notify the court or prosecution of the reason for non-appearance. We have no way to handle it."
Regarding former President Yoon's meal and exercise time, he said, "According to relevant regulations, it is almost the same as other inmates."
The Seoul Detention Center also stated that former President Yoon is living in a solitary cell of about 6.7㎡ (2.03 pyeong) including a bathroom, drawing a line against preferential treatment allegations.
The special committee requested to view related records, questioning why Kim, during his tenure as the head of Suwon Detention Center, did not allow Democratic Party lawmakers to change the meeting place for Lee Hwa-young, former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor, but allowed former President Yoon to meet with Jeong Jin-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President, in a changed location.
Jeon Hyun-hee, the general manager of the special committee, said, "We will confirm the various preferential treatment allegations raised at the Seoul Detention Center and demand accountability if there are any issues."


jjw@fnnews.com Jeong Ji-woo Reporter