The Ministry of Justice expressed deep regret over claims recently raised on YouTube that former President Yoon Suk-yeol is receiving special treatment while incarcerated, saying the channels "broadcast false content unilaterally without even minimal fact-checking."
On the 26th, the Ministry of Justice said, "YouTube channels including 'Bong Ji-wook's Off the Record' aired that former President Yoon and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min are enjoying special favors, but this is not true at all."
The YouTube channel aired claims that: ▲ former President Yoon is freely using a living area with the three doors left open ▲ two cleaners in the housing unit, called "soji," are exclusively attending to former President Yoon ▲ food stocks and side dishes for inmates have been markedly improved for former President Yoon.
In response, the Ministry of Justice said former President Yoon is using only one single-occupancy cell, the same as a standard inmate housing cell. However, to minimize unnecessary contact with others, a partition has been installed, and the cell adjacent to former President Yoon is being operated as "a vacant room with no inmate." The ministry also said there is no dedicated cleaner for former President Yoon, and meals at the Seoul Detention Center where former President Yoon is held are being provided within the budget.
The YouTube channel also raised suspicion that a laptop was provided to former President Yoon. The Ministry of Justice said, "There has never been a case in the past where a laptop and wireless internet were provided inside a detention center," adding, "There is no wireless internet network installed inside correctional facilities."
The YouTube channel also claimed that the former Minister stayed outside for extended periods as a special favor, and that a "senior-level correctional officer" personally provided outside food.
The Ministry of Justice said this is also not true. It added, "The former Minister is conducting visits and exercise the same as a general inmate."
The Ministry of Justice said, "We have fundamentally treated inmates in accordance with laws and regulations," adding, "We will continue to do our best to ensure fair and transparent correctional administration."