South Korean Ex-Justice Minister Jailed 25 Years Over Martial Law Plot

A South Korean court on Monday sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of participating in an insurrection linked to Yoon’s short-lived martial law order, which plunged the country into political turmoil.

Yoon’s late-night declaration of martial law lasted only about six hours before lawmakers convened an emergency session and voted to overturn it. The former president was subsequently convicted of leading an insurrection and is currently appealing a life sentence handed down by the court.

Earlier this month, Yoon was also sentenced to an additional 30 years in prison for allegedly ordering drone operations into North Korea in a bid to create a national security crisis that would justify imposing martial law.

According to prosecutors, Park convened a meeting of justice ministry officials shortly after the martial law declaration and assessed prison capacity in anticipation of the possible detention of opposition figures.

Delivering judgment, presiding judge Lee Jin-gwan said Park’s actions nearly exposed South Korea to a situation where citizens’ fundamental rights and the country’s democratic order could have been seriously undermined.

“As justice minister, Park ignored concerns raised during the meeting regarding the illegality of the December 3 insurrection,” the judge said.

Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison term, arguing that Park had abused his office by turning the law into “a tool of insurrection” and threatening the rule of law. Park, who had been standing trial without detention, was taken into custody immediately after the ruling.

The failed martial law declaration triggered widespread protests, rattled financial markets and shocked key allies, including the United States. Several former senior officials in Yoon’s administration have since received prison sentences over their involvement in the crisis.

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving a 15-year jail term, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min was sentenced to nine years. Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was also jailed for three years for disclosing classified military information related to the insurrection. Separately, Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is serving a four-year sentence for stock manipulation and bribery offences unrelated to the martial law episode.