Following a written rebuttal last month, the ministry Wednesday released video of a solitary cell at Seoul Detention Center in response to privilege allegations raised against Yoon Suk Yeol and Lee Sang-min
![The Ministry of Justice on Wednesday posted a video on its official YouTube channel, "Ministry of Justice TV," rebutting allegations that former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been receiving preferential treatment at Seoul Detention Center. [Screen capture from Ministry of Justice TV]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/10/news-p.v1.20260610.4b582efdea3d44b69347e214132d28b4_P1.png)
By Choi Eui-jong, The Herald Business
The Ministry of Justice has released footage of the cell where former President Yoon Suk Yeol is held at Seoul Detention Center, going beyond a written rebuttal to directly counter mounting allegations that Yoon and others detained on insurrection charges are receiving special treatment.
The ministry posted a two-minute, 14-second video Wednesday on its official YouTube channel, "Ministry of Justice TV," under the title "First look inside the room at Seoul Detention Center where a former president is being held." The footage shows a solitary cell at the facility in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. The ministry said it aimed to expose the truth behind claims that the former president had been using three rooms.
The video shows a heavy iron door swinging open to reveal a compact space of roughly 6.6 square meters, fitted with a toilet and a small shelf for personal belongings. "At mealtimes, a thick cardboard box is used as a base with a laminated paper surface placed on top to serve as a table," the ministry said. "Trays and utensils are made of plastic for the safety of detainees."
The footage also shows that an adult man lying flat leaves almost no room to spare. A single electric fan and a posted notice listing basic rules for detainees are visible on the wall. "There is nothing special about the world behind that iron door," the ministry said. "Detainees are not permitted to move freely between rooms. Movement within this space is governed by rules, not privilege."
The allegations originated from YouTube channels including "Bong Ji-wook's Off the Record," which on May 23 broadcast claims that Yoon and former Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min were enjoying preferential treatment in detention. The broadcasts alleged that Yoon had been using three rooms with their doors open at will, that two dedicated cleaning workers were assigned to attend to him, and that food rations for detainees had been significantly improved on his behalf. They also alleged that Lee had been allowed to spend extended periods outside his cell and that a senior corrections officer had personally supplied him with food from outside the facility.
In response, the ministry issued a press release May 26 rebutting the claims. "It has been broadcast that former President Yoon and former Minister Lee are enjoying preferential treatment, but this is entirely untrue," it said.
The ministry said Yoon is housed in a single solitary cell identical to those used by ordinary detainees. It said a partition has been installed and adjacent cells are kept vacant to minimize unnecessary contact with others.
The ministry also said no cleaning worker is exclusively assigned to Yoon and that cleaning staff for his unit enter only when operationally necessary. It added that meals are provided within the budget allocated by law for all detainees, and denied that wireless internet or any similar service has been provided.
Regarding Lee, the ministry said his visitation and exercise arrangements are the same as those for ordinary detainees, and called claims that he received special permission to leave his cell groundless. It added that allegations of a senior corrections officer bringing in outside food for Lee were entirely unsubstantiated.
"We express deep regret that false information was broadcast one-sidedly without even a minimum fact-checking process," the ministry said.
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