Yoon Allegedly Complained to Officers About "Wanting More Coffee" and "Inadequate Side Dishes" During Detention

Former Inspector General Ryu Hyuk Raises Allegations on MBC Radio
"Expressed Dissatisfaction During Meetings with Officers... Even Called 'Strong Appetite'"
Yoon's Side Refutes: "Living Diligently... Undermining His Character"

There have been claims that former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is currently incarcerated at the Seoul Detention Center, made unreasonable demands to correctional officers, such as "I want more coffee" and "the side dishes are inadequate."

On March 19, former Justice Ministry Inspector General Ryu Hyuk appeared on MBC radio's "Kim Jongbae's Focus" and shared accounts of former President Yoon's life in detention, based on recent conversations with correctional officers. Ryu is known for having tendered his resignation after refusing to attend a countermeasure meeting convened by then-Minister of Justice Park Sungjae immediately following the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.

Former President Yoon Sukyeol. Photo by Joint Press Corps

He stated, "While working as an inspector general at the Ministry of Justice, I had opportunities to talk with correctional officers," and relayed firsthand reactions regarding former President Yoon's attitude during meetings with them.

Ryu reminded listeners that "since (former President Yoon's) detention, there has been controversy over preferential treatment, which has caused considerable hardship for the correctional officers," adding, "From the officers' perspective, his attitude during meetings seems dismissive, making them uncomfortable."

He continued, "Whenever he has the opportunity to meet with the officers, instead of offering words of appreciation or consolation for the hardships they endure because of him, he reportedly only raises his own grievances. For example, he might say, 'I would like to have more coffee,' or 'the side dishes are inadequate.' According to one officer, 'Isn't he someone with a very strong appetite?' This kind of comment has even been made."

He added, "Because he frequently complains about issues related to his meals and living conditions, I have heard that officers are reluctant to meet with him."

When the host asked, "Aren't these issues something that can be resolved with personal funds deposited in his account?" Ryu responded, "He tries to resolve issues that cannot be addressed with personal funds through these meetings, making one-sided demands. As a result, the officers reportedly feel disappointed, realizing, 'He is a much greedier person than we thought.'"

In response, former President Yoon's side immediately refuted the claims. His legal team stated, "Former President Yoon is faithfully abiding by all relevant laws and regulations as an inmate," and strongly objected, saying, "It is highly inappropriate to publicly undermine the character of a detainee through unverified and indirect means."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice stated that it could not confirm the veracity of these claims.

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