Seoul: Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae has filed an appeal against his 25-year prison sentence following his conviction for significant involvement in an insurrection linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law efforts, sources revealed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Park's legal team submitted the appeal to the Seoul Central District Court on Friday, just four days after the court's decision. The sentence exceeds the 20-year term recommended by special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team. Park was charged with playing a crucial role in the insurrection and misusing his authority by convening a meeting of senior ministry officials after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024.

The court upheld the charges against Park, agreeing with the special counsel's assertion that Park had organized the meeting to assess the potential deployment of prosecutors to a martial law-supporting entity, evaluate correctional facilities' capacities for detaining politicians and key figures expected to be apprehended under martial law, and instruct ministry officials responsible for enforcing travel bans to remain on duty.

However, the court dismissed further charges against Park related to violating the anti-graft law, stating they were outside the scope of the special counsel's investigation.