South Korean President moved to solitary cell at Seoul Detention Center

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol had his mug shot taken and underwent a physical check before spending his first night in jail as a criminal suspect, a prison officer said Monday.

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been moved to a solitary cell in the general wing of the Seoul Detention Center after he was placed under formal arrest over the weekend. Yoon had his mug shot taken and also underwent a physical check before he spent his first night in jail, a correctional official said Monday as per reports.

“(Yoon) was moved from a holding room for suspects to the general detention wing, and (I) received a report that he spent the night well,” Shin Yong-hae, commissioner general of the Korea Correctional Service, told lawmakers during a session of the National Assembly’s legislation and judiciary committee.

The official also told lawmakers that Yoon cooperated with official procedures for his detention. A personal correctional officer has been designated for his safety in the cell.

“The individual cooperated well with the procedures without any particular issues,” Shin added, as per reports. According to prison regulations, Yoon will be required to wear a khaki prison uniform and will be assigned an inmate number.

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Yoon became the first sitting South Korean head of state to be detained in a criminal probe on insurrection charges after his botched declaration of martial law.

Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, plunging South Korea into political chaos. However, the declaration lasted only six hours before lawmakers voted it down and impeached him, stripping him of presidential duties.