Ex-Justice Minister Denies Receiving Orders from Chun in First Appeal Hearing

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who received a 25-year sentence in his first trial for allegedly participating in a rebellion during a 1979 martial law period, has denied receiving any directives from former President Chun Doo-hwan. Appearing at his first appellate hearing, Park's defense team argued that the initial verdict was based on conjecture and urged the court to acquit him. The defense specifically challenged the prosecution's extensive use of inferences, which they claimed amounted to approximately 50 instances in the original ruling. They likened this reasoning to outdated methods, asserting that Park merely reviewed the Ministry of Justice's standard duties during the martial law period and did not receive specific instructions from the president. The prosecution, however, maintains that Park was involved in a key role within the rebellion.

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I did not receive any operational instructions from President Chun Doo-hwan.