Former Justice Minister's Appeal Trial Begins Over Sedition Charges, 25-Year Sentence

The appeal trial for former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, accused of sedition, commenced on July 31 at the Seoul High Court. Park was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison in the first trial for charges including participating in sedition and violating the anti-graft law during the 12.12 emergency martial law period.

Park is accused of ordering emergency standby for the departure ban team and reviewing the securing of correctional facility space and the dispatch of prosecutors to a joint investigation headquarters shortly after the declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024. He is also alleged to have received inquiries from First Lady Kim Keon-hee regarding an investigation into a luxury bag and instructed his subordinates to verify them.

The first trial court found Park guilty of sedition and abuse of power, sentencing him to 25 years and taking him into custody. However, the court dismissed the bribery charge related to the luxury bag inquiry, ruling it did not fall under the scope of a special prosecutor's investigation.

Both the special prosecution team and Park have appealed the first trial's verdict. The prosecution intends to argue for the bribery charges to be reconsidered in the appellate court.