Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is being held at the Seoul Detention Center, has received more than 657.25 million won in prison deposits over the past roughly 100 days.
According to data titled "Top 10 inmate deposits" submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Rep. Park Eun-jung of the Rebuilding Korea Party, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, on Nov. 9, the former president received 657.25 million won in deposits over 109 days from July 10, when he was re-detained, to Oct. 26, ranking No. 1 in deposits at the Seoul Detention Center. There were 12,794 deposits, averaging about 100 per day.
The former president withdrew 651.66 million won in deposits in 180 transactions. The maximum amount of deposits an inmate in a correctional facility may hold is 4 million won. If the limit is exceeded, it is paid upon release or, if necessary, may be transferred to a personal account upon request.
Under the "2025 regulations on compensation and allowances for public officials," the president's annual salary this year is about 262.58 million won. The deposits the former president received amount to 2.5 times this year's presidential salary. It is also more than the donations a lawmaker can receive over four years. Incumbent lawmakers may raise up to 150 million won per year, and up to 300 million won in an election year.
Kim Keon-hee, the former president's wife, was confined at the Southern Detention Center on Aug. 12 and received about 22.5 million won in deposits over two months. Kim withdrew about 18.56 million won of that amount.
At the Seoul Detention Center, following the former president, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party and Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja are presumed to rank first to third in deposits. After entering on Sept. 16, Kweon received 16.6 million won and withdrew about 16.44 million won. Han, who was detained on Sept. 23, received about 5.64 million won and withdrew about 1.14 million won.
Rep. Park Eun-jung said, "The inmate deposit system, introduced for inmate convenience, has effectively degenerated into a fundraising channel for 'Yoon Again,'" and added, "To root out operations that deviate from the original intent of the deposit system, it seems urgent to prepare reform measures such as setting a deposit limit."