Former President Yoon Suk-yeol filed for bail with the court, saying it is difficult merely to survive in a 1.8-pyeong room, while attorney Kim Gye-ri, his counsel, said, "On days when former President Yoon goes to court, he had instant cup noodles and hardtack for lunch," adding, "The defendant's chronic illness and health are being seriously harmed."
Attorney Kim Gye-ri, legal representative for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, on the 29th posted a video titled "We apply for President Yoon Suk-yeol's bail" on her YouTube channel and disclosed the contents of the bail hearing arguments held on the 26th at the Seoul Central District Court.
In the video, Kim said, "The insurrection ringleader trial usually starts at 10:10 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m. at the earliest or around 8 p.m. at the latest. To attend the morning session, which usually starts at 10 a.m., ordinary inmates depart from the facility at 8:50 a.m. However, the defendant (Yoon Suk-yeol) completes departure preparations around 7 a.m., earlier than ordinary inmates, due to the need for individual guarding."
She continued, "For example, for a departure to undergo a detention validity review, to finish preparing by around 7 a.m., he has to get up at 6 a.m., and without being able to have a proper breakfast, he had instant cup noodles and hardtack for lunch," adding, "Dinner service ends at 4:30 p.m., and when he returns to the detention center, there is either no dinner or, if notified in advance, a small portion of rice is prepared."
She argued, "If the defendant appears for all trials to be held four times a week going forward and, on top of that, also appears for the special counsel's investigation, it is no exaggeration to say that practically only weekends remain as days when he can have proper meals." She also said, "Such a schedule will seriously harm the defendant's chronic illness and health," adding, "Beyond denying the right to mount a defense, it can even lead to threats to the defendant's eyesight and life, making this also a matter of human rights protection."
Kim also said, "Under the absurd pretext of the public's right to know, the defendant's private life is being disclosed in detail. Even when the defendant goes out for external medical treatment, authorities are committing human rights violations by making him wear handcuffs, ropes, and even an electronic anklet, and by deliberately publicizing the schedule so he gets filmed."
She added, "Handcuffs and ropes are discretionary, not mandatory. Nevertheless, on the grounds that there is a risk of escape while an elderly former president is receiving treatment, and on the grounds of according the same treatment as ordinary inmates, they are carrying out the absurd act of letting him be photographed wearing handcuffs and ropes," arguing, "It is nothing but political retaliation to humiliate the defendant."
The court is currently reviewing whether to grant bail to the former president. Former President Yoon has refused to attend the insurrection trial since being re-arrested on Jul. 10 on charges including obstruction of special official duties, but he appeared at the first hearing on charges including obstruction of special official duties, additionally indicted by the special counsel team for the insurrection case on the 26th, and at the subsequent bail hearing.