Ex-Justice Minister gets 25 years for martial law role, influence peddling

A South Korean court has sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his role in a 12.3 emergency martial law and for allegedly accepting a bribe to influence an investigation into first lady Kim Keon-hee.

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Park guilty of participating in the martial law, which it characterized as a "palace coup" that had been in preparation since 2023. The court also stated that Park had a "recognition of illegality and purpose of disrupting the constitution" for his actions.

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Accountability for those involved in the rebellion must continue to the end.

Park was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing due to concerns about evidence tampering. The court's decision to impose a sentence exceeding the 20-year prison term sought by the special prosecutor highlighted the gravity of his involvement in the martial law.

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The court's sentencing of Park Sung-jae is retribution.

Opposition politicians reacted strongly to the verdict. Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party of Korea stated that "accountability for those involved in the rebellion must continue to the end." He added that the ruling is "a condemnation of the rebellion forces and an important milestone in South Korea's restoration of its constitutional order."

Son Sol, the chief spokesperson for the Progressive Party, echoed this sentiment, calling the sentence "retribution" and declaring it a "victory for democracy and the great people who defended the square against the rebellion." However, some expressed disappointment that the court dismissed charges related to Kim Keon-hee's alleged violation of the anti-graft law, citing it as outside the special prosecutor's scope.

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The court did not strictly handle the Kim Keon-hee related cases during the trial process.