Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, currently held at the Seoul Detention Center, has been confirmed to have received a significant amount of money during his time in custody. According to recent data, he received 657.25 million Korean won in deposited funds over the course of 109 days, from July 10 to the 26th of last month. This figure highlights the financial activity associated with his detention and raises questions about the sources and purposes of these deposits.
The Ministry of Justice provided this information as part of a report titled “Top 10 Inmates by Deposited Funds,” which was submitted to Rep. Park Eun-jung of the Rebuilding Korea Party. The report, which is part of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, outlines the financial transactions of high-profile detainees. For former President Yoon, the data shows that the funds were deposited a total of 12,794 times, averaging approximately 100 transactions per day. This frequent activity suggests that there may be multiple contributors or a structured system for managing his financial needs during incarceration.
In addition to receiving these deposits, former President Yoon also withdrew a total of 651.66 million Korean won through 180 separate transactions. This indicates that while he has access to a substantial amount of money, there are also regular withdrawals, possibly for personal expenses or legal fees. The scale of these transactions is notable, especially when compared to other public figures.
One key point of comparison is the annual salary of a president in South Korea. According to the “2025 Regulations on Public Officials’ Remuneration and Allowances,” the president’s annual salary for this year is 262.581 million Korean won. This means that the amount received by former President Yoon over the past 109 days is roughly 2.5 times the annual salary of a sitting president. Such a disparity raises questions about the nature of the deposits and whether they are being used appropriately within the confines of his detention.
While former President Yoon’s financial activity is significant, it is not the only case of interest. Former first lady Kim Keon-hee, who has been detained at the Seoul Southern Detention Center since August 12, has also received deposits. From that date until the 26th of last month, she received 22.495 million Korean won. She then withdrew 18.556 million Korean won across 18 transactions. These numbers, while much smaller than those of her husband, still highlight the ongoing financial activity of high-profile detainees.
This situation underscores the broader issue of how incarcerated individuals, particularly those with high public profiles, manage their finances. It also brings into focus the transparency and oversight required to ensure that such transactions are legitimate and do not raise concerns about misuse of resources or potential legal violations.
For now, the details provided by the Ministry of Justice offer a glimpse into the financial lives of these detainees. However, further scrutiny and public discussion will likely follow, given the significance of these figures and their implications for the legal and ethical standards surrounding the treatment of high-profile prisoners.