South Korea’s jailed ex-president and wife received $2 million in inmate funds

Jailed former South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, collected about $2 million in inmate funds during their first year of detention, according to data from the Justice Ministry released on Oct 11 by representative Lee Sung-yoon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.



Yoon received approximantely $1.45m across 45,770 deposits from July 10 through Sept 9, 2026. Kim received $187,000 across 10,415 deposits from her arrest on Aug 12, 2025 through the same date.



The combined total is about eight times the president’s annual salary. Each received more money than any other inmate at their respective detention centres, according to the data.



Under South Korean law, inmates can receive money from outside the prison to buy daily necessities. Their inmate accounts are capped at $2,900, with any excess held until release or transferred to a personal bank account.



Yoon withdrew nearly $1.45in 586 transactions. The Democratic Party said he repeatedly had correctional officers transfer money from his inmate account to his personal bank account, effectively resetting the balance and freeing up room for further deposits.