Lee Myung-bak Reincarcerated in Dongbu Detention Center... 251 Days After Suspension of Arrest Execution (Comprehensive Report 2)

MB Reincarcerated at Seoul Eastern Detention Center on the Afternoon of the 2nd
Passes Through Detention Center Main Gate Silently with a Stern Expression
Reporters and YouTubers Gathered in Front of Residence and Detention Center
Placed in Solitary Cell at Detention Center... Assigned Dedicated Correctional Officer

Former President Lee Myung-bak, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison last month on the 29th by the Supreme Court for charges including embezzlement of company funds and bribery, is leaving his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 2nd to be re-incarcerated at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center.

[Asia Economy reporters Song Seung-yoon and intern Kim Sung-won] Former President Lee Myung-bak, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Supreme Court, was re-incarcerated at Seoul Eastern Detention Center on the afternoon of the 2nd.

On that day, around 1:48 p.m., former President Lee departed from his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office about 12 minutes later. From his home, he got into a vehicle without showing himself to the public, and upon arrival at the prosecution building, he went straight into the underground parking lot, avoiding exposure to the press.

After a brief identity verification procedure at the prosecution office, former President Lee took a vehicle provided by the prosecution and arrived at the Eastern Detention Center at 2:40 p.m. In front of the detention center, dozens of supporters held red banners with phrases such as "President Lee Myung-bak is innocent" and shouted his name. Even upon arrival at the detention center, former President Lee said little and passed through the main gate with a stern expression.

From early morning that day, dozens of reporters and protesters gathered in front of former President Lee's residence. Police officers and security personnel controlling the scene were stationed at various points near the residence, moving busily. A YouTuber held a one-person protest urging a national apology from former President Lee and his swift imprisonment. This YouTuber also held solo protests on the 29th of last month, when the Supreme Court ruling was announced, and the day before.

Some YouTubers attempted to place congratulatory wreaths reading "Congratulations on Lee Myung-bak's Imprisonment" in front of the residence or tried to knock on the door but were stopped by the police. This atmosphere continued into the afternoon, but no major clashes occurred. The police deployed about 150 officers from two companies of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and about 20 officers from the Gangnam Police Station's intelligence and security divisions to the scene in preparation for any emergencies.

[Edaily Reporter Bang In-kwon] Supporters and politicians of former President Lee Myung-bak gathered in front of his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, as he was re-incarcerated at the detention center on the afternoon of the 2nd, following the Supreme Court's final ruling on the 29th of last month confirming a 17-year prison sentence for embezzlement of company funds and bribery charges.

Close associates of former President Lee, including People Power Party lawmakers Kwon Seong-dong, Jang Je-won, and Cho Hae-jin, former lawmaker Lee Eun-jae, former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, and former Blue House Policy Chief Baek Yong-ho, also gathered at the residence one after another. When the vehicle carrying former President Lee was seen, these supporters repeatedly chanted his name in front of the police cordon.

Former President Lee is expected to be housed in a single cell at the Eastern Detention Center. This measure considers precedents for former presidents, and a dedicated correctional officer will be assigned. However, procedures such as physical examination, confiscation of personal belongings, and photographing for the detention record (so-called mugshot) will be conducted the same as for ordinary inmates. The Eastern Detention Center is where former President Lee was detained for one year from March 22, 2018, when an arrest warrant was issued during the prosecution investigation, until he was released on bail in March of the following year. After incarceration, classification screening will be conducted. An appropriate security level prison will be assigned based on the classification grade, ranging from open treatment S1 to medium security S4. Since he is now a convicted prisoner with a finalized sentence, he will be transferred from the detention center to a prison where convicted inmates live.

Former President Lee was sentenced to 17 years in prison by the Supreme Court on the 29th of last month on charges including embezzlement and bribery. Upon this incarceration, he must serve the remaining 16 years of his sentence, excluding the one year he spent in jail during previous investigations and trials. At 80 years old by Korean age, he would be eligible for release only after reaching the winter of his 96th year. However, as he has continuously raised health issues, there is a possibility of variables during the incarceration period, such as suspension of sentence execution.

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