Former President Yoon Seok-youl and his wife Kim Geun-hee are set to celebrate the Lunar New Year on January 17 while incarcerated in separate prisons, following convictions related to political corruption and interference in investigations. The Seoul Detention Center, where Yoon is held, has planned a festive menu for the holiday, featuring rice cake soup and various accompaniments. Similarly, the Seoul Southern Detention Center, which houses Kim, will serve rice cake soup along with other traditional dishes.

Despite it being a holiday, the likelihood of the couple receiving visits from family or friends during this time appears low. The correctional authorities generally restrict inmate visits during holidays, with visitation typically limited to regular business hours on non-holidays unless special permission is granted. This has implications for their family dynamics, as both Yoon and Kim are facing significant prison sentences, with Yoon's upcoming trial potentially leading to severe penalties including capital punishment.

This marks the third holiday Yoon has spent in incarceration, while it is Kim's second confinement holiday since last year’s Chuseok. Yoon's upcoming trial verdict on January 19 could set a precedent for future political consequences in South Korea, as it intersects with increasing public scrutiny of political accountability and ethics in governance.