Former South Korean President Yoon and his wife are also incarcerated at the same time, raising questions about continuing security at their private residence even though it is empty

The first hearing of former South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was indicted on charges of special obstruction of public duties and abuse of power, was held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 26th of this month.
On the 24th, the first hearing of Kim Gun-hee, the wife of Yoon, who is accused of violating the Capital Markets Act and bribery through intermediation, was held at the same district court. The couple are currently in prison, and are the first person to be sentenced to a presidential term in South Korea.
Although there have been cases in the past where former presidents have been indicted and imprisoned, this is the first time that a married couple has been indicted together.
"It has been learned that the Presidential Security Service is still guarding Yoon's private residence, even though he has been arrested and is currently in detention."
The organization is a specialized administrative organization that guards the former president and other officials in the country. The newspaper reported, "It has become like protecting vacant houses that no one lives in, and voices are being raised pointing out that this is a waste of government and tax money."
Yoon declared "emergency martial law" in December last year while he was president. Emergency martial law is a type of martial law stipulated by the South Korean Constitution. In times of war or other emergencies, military measures are taken.
Martial law is declared by the president when necessary or to maintain public order. It was the first time martial law had been declared since the country's democratization in 1987.
Following the declaration, armed martial law soldiers broke the glass and stormed into the National Diet Building.
In response to this situation, many citizens gathered in front of the National Diet, chanting slogans in opposition to martial law and surrounding military vehicles, causing chaos.
However, if a majority of members of Congress request the lifting of martial law, the president must comply.
Immediately after the declaration, a plenary session was held in the National Assembly, and all members present voted in favor of lifting it. Yoon lifted the state of emergency in just six hours. At the time, the opposition Democratic Party of Korea and others criticized Yoon for "suspending the constitutional order."
The bill to impeach Yoon was submitted to the National Assembly, citing him as a violation of the Constitution, including "attempting to seize permanent power by attempting to commit civil war."
He was suspended from his duties. Afterwards, the prime minister and other officials acted as acting president. The declaration of "emergency martial law" caused great political and social unrest, and the opposition party accused Yoon of instigating civil unrest.
Article 87 of the Criminal Code stipulates that riots committed with the intent of eliminating state power or violating the Constitution will be punished as treason. The maximum penalty is the death penalty.
In January, a joint investigation headquarters of the National Guard and the police arrested and indicted Yoon on suspicion of masterminding a rebellion. Yoon was also arrested by the Presidential Security Service when he was about to be detained by the investigating authorities over the declaration of emergency martial law.
He was indicted on charges of special obstruction of public duties, including ordering the obstruction of the execution of a warrant, and the first hearing for this case was held on the 26th. Yoon has not attended trial since being rearrested in July this year.
Yoon did not appear in court and made his first public appearance in about three months. After spending time in detention, he had more gray hair and looked thinner than before. He completely denied the charges against him.
Prior to this, Yoon's wife was indicted on three charges, including bribery, for allegedly receiving luxury brand-name goods in response to requests for government support for overseas projects from former Unification Church officials.
The first hearing of Kim Kun-hee was held on the 24th at the Seoul Central District Court. This is the first time that the wife of a former president has been put on criminal trial in South Korea. Kim stated in her plea that she "denies all the charges," and fully admitted to the charges.
Yoon and his wife are currently both incarcerated in a detention center. Yoon appeared in court on the 26th wearing a tag with his detention number "3617" on his left chest. He was rearrested in July this year.
Yoon appeared in public for the first time in about three months since his arrest. When asked by the judge, "Why are you not appearing in court for the other case you are currently on trial for?", he replied, "I'm playing 'Survive' in a 1.8 tsubo room.
"Just surviving was painful," he said, adding, "The fact that I even made it out here is not normal," and complained that life in detention was difficult and that it was difficult for him to cope with the trial.
Kim was also assigned the inmate number "4398" and is being held in a solitary cell of about 1.8 square meters. The cell is equipped with shelves, a folding desk, a television, a toilet, etc.
There are no beds in the prison, and people sleep on futons spread out on the floor. Kim said that he was unable to eat enough due to health problems when he was first imprisoned. As both Yoon and his wife are imprisoned, they are staying in the same apartment in Seocho, Seoul.
The couple's private residence in Seocho-gu is currently unoccupied. However, according to Dong-A Ilbo, bodyguards from the Presidential Security Service are still guarding the residence. The Security Service responded to the newspaper, "
"Minimum security measures are being implemented in accordance with the law and regulations regarding the protection of the president and other officials," he said. The current law provides security for former presidents and their families for up to 10 years.
Even if someone is removed from office through impeachment, as in the case of Yoon, security and guard services will continue. However, the newspaper pointed out that "more than 3 million won (approximately 319,000 yen) is being paid as rent every month."
He said there were voices saying that this was a waste of tax money.