Seoul: Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after a district court found him guilty of playing a key role in an insurrection through his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court's decision exceeded the 20-year prison term sought by special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team. The court ordered Park's immediate custody due to concerns that he might destroy evidence. Park was indicted on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection and abusing his power by convening a meeting of senior ministry officials after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024.
The court upheld the charges, agreeing with the special counsel team's argument that Park had organized the meeting to evaluate the dispatch of prosecutors to a martial law-supporting body, assess correctional facilities' capacities for detaining politicians and key figures likely to be arrested under martial law, and instruct ministry officials responsible for imposing travel bans to report for duty. The court stated, "The defendant ultimately turned his back on his duty of upholding the Constitution at the idea that the insurrection could succeed, choosing to instead take part in it."
Park is now among several members of Yoon's Cabinet convicted for their roles in the insurrection, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. In February, Yoon received a life sentence for leading the insurrection through the martial law imposition. He has appealed the ruling.
The court dismissed additional charges against Park for anti-graft law violations, stating that these did not fall within the special counsel's investigation mandate. These charges involved Park allegedly giving inappropriate orders to his subordinates at the behest of Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, in May 2024, to review the prosecution's investigation into her corruption allegations.
Park's legal team announced plans to appeal the sentence, arguing that the ruling was not supported by facts or legal principles. Meanwhile, the special counsel team expressed satisfaction with the ruling, which they believe clarified the justice minister's duty to prevent illegal martial law declarations and protect the constitutional order, making an appeal from their side unlikely.