The Ministry of Justice abruptly replaced the head of the Seoul Detention Center on the 14th. In response, the Ministry stated, "This personnel change was made based on the judgment that human resources renewal is necessary regarding various issues raised about the treatment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol."
Accordingly, Kim Hyun-woo, the head of the Seoul Detention Center, has been transferred to the head of Anyang Prison. Kim Do-hyung, the head of the Suwon Detention Center, has been assigned as the head of the Seoul Detention Center. This personnel change will take effect on the 18th.
The Ministry of Justice noted, "Through this personnel change, we expect to revitalize the stagnant organizational atmosphere and be more faithful to our main duties," adding, "We will make every effort for strict law enforcement, including fair custody management without favoritism in the future."
This personnel change appears to be based on allegations of preferential treatment for former President Yoon, who is currently incarcerated at the Seoul Detention Center.
Previously, Jeon Hyun-hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and others raised suspicions that former President Yoon is receiving special treatment at the Seoul Detention Center. Jeon claimed that former President Yoon meets with lawyers on weekends, unlike other detainees, and that his meeting room is different from those of other detainees.
In this regard, the Democratic Party's Special Committee for Comprehensive Response to Special Investigations also claimed on the 1st that "Former President Yoon has met with lawyers and others for a total of 395 hours and 18 minutes during his detention, with 348 people having visited," asserting, "This is a preferential treatment that cannot be compared to that of other detainees."
The committee also pointed out that Commissioner Kim did not actively respond to the execution of the special investigation team's arrest warrant. The committee visited the Seoul Detention Center on the 11th to demand access to CCTV footage of the arrest warrant execution process for former President Yoon, but Commissioner Kim refused this request.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has decided to suspend the provision of a private meeting room for former President Yoon with his lawyer as a measure related to the allegations of preferential treatment. Accordingly, it has been reported that former President Yoon has since met with his lawyer in the same location as general detainees.