A Seoul court sentenced former South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his role in the imposition of martial law in December 2024. The court also found him guilty of aiding then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was later impeached and removed from office.
Judge Lee Jin-gwan stated that Park effectively abandoned his duty to uphold the constitution and law by supporting Yoon's actions. He described the martial law decree as a 'self-coup' aimed at monopolizing power. According to the judge, Park's role could have been decisive if Yoon's plan had been fully implemented.
According to the court, after martial law was declared on December 3, 2024, Park ordered ministry officials to assess prison capacity for the possible arrest of politicians. He also instructed prosecutors to be assigned to the martial law command to support investigations against Yoon's political opponents and his claims of alleged election fraud.
Additionally, Park directed immigration services to prepare for travel restrictions. The martial law lasted about six hours before lawmakers broke through a military blockade at the National Assembly and voted to lift it, forcing the cabinet to revoke the decree.
Park has denied the charges, insisting he acted within the scope of an emergency situation. His lawyers have not yet indicated whether they will appeal.
Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. He was arrested in July 2025 and faces ongoing criminal proceedings.
Previously, Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment for insurrection. In a separate case, he received a 30-year term for ordering drone flights over Pyongyang in October 2024, which prosecutors said was intended to provoke tensions with North Korea and justify martial law. Both sentences have been appealed.
Park is not the only senior official convicted in this case. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun received 30 years for his key role in mobilizing the military and preparing arrests of political opponents, plus a separate 30-year term for planning drone operations.
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was initially sentenced to 23 years for attempting to give the decree legal appearance through cabinet approval, but an appellate court later reduced the term to 15 years.
Source: podrobno.uz