"All 104 Petitions from Supporters Requesting Air Conditioning in Yoon Seok-yeol's Solitary Cell Dismissed"

NHRC: "Former President Yoon Does Not Wish for Investigation"

Most Petitions Concern Poor Detention Conditions, Including Air Conditioning Requests

It was belatedly revealed that the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC) summarily dismissed over 100 petitions filed by supporters requesting the installation of air conditioning in the solitary cell at Seoul Detention Center where former President Yoon Seok-yeol is incarcerated.

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol attending the first trial of cases including obstruction of official duties and abuse of power at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

According to Yonhap News Agency on June 30, the NHRC dismissed all 104 petitions submitted by supporters on February 23, who expressed concerns over possible human rights violations in former President Yoon's detention facility. The reason cited was that former President Yoon had made it clear he did not wish for an investigation by submitting a formal statement of non-consent to the NHRC.

Under the National Human Rights Commission of Korea Act, if a petition is filed by someone other than the victim, and the victim clearly states that they do not want an investigation, the petition may be dismissed.

After former President Yoon was reincarcerated at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province in July last year, a total of 104 petitions were submitted to the NHRC over about two months, claiming that his detention conditions and treatment constituted human rights violations.

Among these, the largest number—80 petitions—alleged human rights violations due to the poor environment of correctional facilities, including demands for the installation of air conditioning. It is reported that the approximately 6.6-square-meter solitary cell where former President Yoon is held is not equipped with air conditioning, but only has a ceiling fan.

Supporters argued that detaining an elderly person in a small solitary cell during a heatwave was unjust and demanded the installation of cooling facilities. However, the NHRC dismissed all related petitions on the grounds that the person directly affected did not wish for an investigation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice plans to spend about 1.2 billion won this year to reinforce cooling facilities primarily in detention wards housing elderly people, persons with disabilities, and patients who are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. However, the cooling units will be installed in the corridors, not inside the cells, in order to indirectly lower indoor temperatures.

Currently, most correctional facility cells are equipped only with fans and do not have air conditioning. The current Act on the Execution of Sentences and Treatment of Inmates includes provisions on heating facilities, but there are no explicit clauses mandating the installation of cooling facilities.

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