Former Justice Minister appeals 25-year prison sentence in martial law case

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in his first trial for his role in former Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, has appealed the ruling.

According to the legal community on Saturday, Park's legal team filed a notice of appeal Friday with the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33.

Park is accused of convening a meeting of senior Justice Ministry officials following the declaration of martial law and carrying out a series of measures, including reviewing the dispatch of prosecutors to the Martial Law Command's Joint Investigation Headquarters, assessing the capacity of correctional facilities and ordering officials responsible for travel bans to report to work.

The court, in its first ruling Monday, found Park guilty on charges including playing a key role in an alleged insurrection. It ruled that Park was fully aware both that the declaration of martial law lacked necessary substantive and procedural legal requirements and that Yoon intended to use subsequent martial law measures to prevent the National Assembly from exercising its constitutional authority through coercion.

Concluding that Park's actions constituted participation in a key role in the alleged insurrection, the court sentenced him to 25 years in prison and ordered that he be taken into custody immediately after the verdict.

The 25-year prison sentence exceeded the 20-year term sought by the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok, which is investigating the alleged insurrection.

The court, however, dismissed a separate charge alleging that Park violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, ruling that the allegation fell outside the scope of the special counsel's mandate.

BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]