Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained again on Thursday, placed in a solitary cell with basic food, after prosecutors secured a new detention warrant related to his attempted martial law last year.
The Seoul Central District Court approved the warrant, citing concerns that Yoon might destroy evidence. He had previously spent 52 days in detention earlier this year.
Yoon returned to his upscale Seoul apartment with his wife and pets but was now confined to a 10-square-meter cell, sleeping on a foldable mattress without air conditioning, relying on a small electric fan during a heatwave. Detention center reports described a modest breakfast of steamed potatoes and mini cheese breads.
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He faces criminal charges of insurrection over his martial law decree, which could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty. Following his detention, Yoon did not attend a court hearing on his insurrection trial, citing health reasons. His legal team considers the detention to be an unreasonable and hasty move.
Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April due to his attempt to impose martial law, a decision that shocked South Koreans and caused political instability. A special prosecution team, created after President Lee Jae Myung’s election in June, is investigating additional charges, including whether Yoon deliberately escalated tensions with North Korea.
The team plans to question Yoon on Friday, with his lawyers and wife informed via letters. Supporters rallied near the court, waving flags and chanting despite the 95°F heat. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik emphasized that Yoon’s detention should aid in uncovering the truth behind the martial law crisis and restoring democracy, asserting that no one is above the law.
