Seoul: Jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol has accumulated over 1.2 billion won (approximately US$795,000) in inmate funds during his eight-month detention, a lawmaker revealed, based on data from the justice ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon has been detained at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, just south of Seoul, since his second arrest on July 10, facing charges related to the brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. During the period ending March 15, about 1.26 billion won was deposited into his inmate trust account, a sum that is 4.6 times the annual salary of President Lee Jae Myung, as noted by Rep. Kim Yong-min of the ruling Democratic Party. Over the same duration, 358 withdrawals were made from the account, averaging 1.4 transactions per day.

The lawmaker criticized the situation, stating, "An absurd situation is happening where insurrection ringleader Yoon Suk Yeol is benefiting from a luxurious inmate deposit fund scheme." He emphasized that inmate funds should not serve as a means of financial gain for criminals and called for necessary institutional reforms.

Among the inmate trust accounts at Seoul Detention Center, Yoon's was the largest, with the second-largest account holding 102 million won, followed by another account with 51.6 million won. Other high-profile inmates at the facility include Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party and Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja.

Furthermore, Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, has reportedly amassed 97.4 million won in her inmate account from her arrest on August 12 until March 15. She is currently held at Seoul Nambu Detention Center in southwestern Seoul on multiple corruption charges.