Ex-Justice Minister Park sentenced to 25 years for role in Dec. 3 marital law declaration

A Seoul court on Monday sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for participating in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, handing Park a heavier sentence than prosecutors had requested and ordering his immediate detention.

However, the court dismissed charges against former Government Legislation Minister Lee Wan-kyu. 

Park was sentenced by the Seoul Central District Court at 2 p.m. to 25 years in prison — five years longer than the sentence the special counsel had sought — after being convicted of charges that included playing a key role in an insurrection and abuse of authority.

In its ruling, the court found that Park had actively participated in the insurrection and was also guilty of obstructing the exercise of rights by abusing his authority.

"Immediately after the declaration of martial law, [Park] convened a meeting within the Justice Ministry and took a series of measures, including imposing travel bans on individuals accused of violating the martial law decree, securing capacity at correctional facilities [to place politicians arrested during martial law] and ordering personnel to be assigned to the joint martial law investigation headquarters," the court said.

"The court finds that these actions were carried out with the intent to undermine the constitutional order and with full awareness of their illegality."

The court said Park "ultimately turned away from his duty to defend the Constitution" and instead chose to participate in the insurrection because he believed it would succeed.

The court dismissed a separate charge alleging that Park violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by intervening in an investigation involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, ruling that the allegation fell outside the scope of the special counsel's mandate. A dismissal means the court terminated proceedings on that charge without determining guilt or innocence.

The court also issued a ruling on former Government Legislation Minister Lee Wan-kyu, who was tried on charges of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly.

Lee was accused of giving false testimony before the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee by describing a meeting at a government safe house as a "social gathering." The court also dismissed the case, finding it was not within the special counsel's jurisdiction.

BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]