Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee to Share Lunar New Year "Prison Tteokguk"...Visits Also Restricted

Second Holiday Behind Bars After Last Year’s Chuseok
Regular Meals Only, No Special Holiday Dishes
Meetings with Attorneys and Family Also Restricted

Former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife Kim Keonhee will spend the Lunar New Year holiday in detention again this year. Following last year's Chuseok, this will be their second holiday behind bars.

Former president Yoon Sukyeol, charged with leading an insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law, is making his final statement at the closing arguments hearing held last month in Criminal Courtroom No. 417 of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Yonhap News

According to the Ministry of Justice, former President Yoon is being held at the Seoul Detention Center, while Mrs. Kim is incarcerated at the Seoul Southern Detention Center. On Lunar New Year’s Day, the 17th, both facilities will serve the usual meals without any special holiday dishes.

At the Seoul Detention Center, breakfast will consist of tteokguk (rice cake soup), seasoned laver flakes, and napa cabbage kimchi; lunch will include beef doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), stir-fried shredded potatoes with ham, yuzu-dressed lettuce salad, and napa cabbage kimchi; dinner will feature gochujang jjigae (red pepper paste stew), braised pork with whole garlic, napa cabbage kimchi, and multigrain rice.

At the Seoul Southern Detention Center, Mrs. Kim’s meals will consist of beef spicy soup, obokji muchim (mixed pickled vegetables), and napa cabbage kimchi for breakfast; tteokguk, seasoned salted squid, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables), and napa cabbage kimchi for lunch; and miyeokguk (seaweed soup), braised chicken with kimchi, mung bean jelly salad with seaweed flakes, and kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi) for dinner. Neither detention center has included any special Lunar New Year dishes.

By law, special meals may be provided on national holidays or days equivalent to them, but this is not mandatory. No separate holiday dishes were provided for last year’s Chuseok either. However, on Liberation Day, former President Yoon was served carbo buldak-bokkeum-myeon (carbonara hot chicken stir-fried noodles) and ice cream, while Mrs. Kim received patbingsu (red bean shaved ice) and black bean soy milk.

During the holiday period, meetings with defense attorneys are restricted. On weekends and public holidays, attorney visits are not allowed, unlike ordinary visitation. As a result, the two will not be able to meet family members or acquaintances until the 18th.

A photo of former President Yoon Sukyeol and Mrs. Kim Keonhee released by the Presidential Office for Chuseok 2023.

Former President Yoon is awaiting the first-instance verdict on the charge of being the ringleader of the insurrection related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law, which is scheduled for the 19th. The 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court is planning to deliver sentences for a total of eight defendants, including former President Yoon.

Despite the possibility that some defendants may not appear, legal experts expect the court to proceed without postponement and to start with those who are present. This verdict has drawn intense public attention as it is the first ruling in an insurrection case involving a former president in roughly 30 years since former President Chun Doohwan. Taking this into account, the court has even allowed the proceedings to be broadcast live.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.