The Seoul Detention Center stated on the 31st that it does not believe the health of former President Yoon Suk-yeol has deteriorated to the point where he cannot undergo an investigation.
On that day, the medical director of the Seoul Detention Center responded to a question from the Democratic Party of Korea's 'Special Committee on Comprehensive Response to the Three Special Prosecutors' asking, 'Does former President Yoon Suk-yeol have health problems that prevent him from undergoing an investigation?'
On that day, Special Committee members, including Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Jeon Hyun-hee and Kim Byeong-joo, visited the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, to question the former president's refusal to respond to the special prosecutor's summons and whether the detention center was giving him preferential treatment.
The medical director said, 'It is difficult for me to provide a clear answer because I cannot know all personal or subjective symptoms,' but he noted, 'There doesn't seem to be a major issue regarding the investigation or going to court.'
Kim Hyun-woo, the director of the Seoul Detention Center, stated, 'It is not that we have not forcibly brought in (former President Yoon) because he is a former president,' adding, 'We followed procedures to notify him and tried to persuade him to attend through multiple interviews while instructing staff to enforce attendance, but he has firmly refused.'
In response to concerns that they are not properly implementing forced compliance for former President Yoon, the director stated, 'In the case of (former President Yoon), there are no circumstances that would warrant guards using physical force or legal procedures,' explaining, 'Force can only be applied in instances related to prison safety, maintaining order, or protecting inmate lives from self-harm.'
The director further noted, 'Many inmates refuse to respond to summons like former President Yoon,' stating, 'In such cases, we merely inform the court or prosecutors of the reasons for nonattendance. There is nothing we can do.'
In response, former President Yoon's side stated, 'According to a diagnosis from a university hospital, former President Yoon has been unable to undergo ophthalmic procedures for three months, increasing the risk of blindness,' adding, 'There are also concerns about thermoregulation issues due to cardiovascular, carotid artery stenosis, and autonomic nervous system damage.' They continued, 'Former President Yoon is experiencing considerable difficulties maintaining his health due to various underlying conditions, making it challenging for him to respond to the investigation and trial.