South Korea ex-minister gets 25 years for role in martial law disaster

A South Korean court has sentenced former justice minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his involvement in a brief and chaotic martial law declaration in 2024. The declaration, made by then-president Yoon Suk Yeol, lasted only about six hours before lawmakers convened an emergency session to vote it down.

Park was found guilty of "insurrection" and of instructing cooperation with the martial law command, with the court stating he "reduced the law to a tool of insurrection in his abuse of power." Prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence, arguing he showed no remorse and challenged the rule of law.

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instructed cooperation with the martial law command... on the assumption that a decree would be effective

Yoon himself has been convicted of leading the insurrection and is appealing a life sentence. He also received a 30-year jail term for sending drones to North Korea to create a national crisis. The shock late-night martial law announcement triggered protests, sent the stock market plunging, and caught allies like the United States off guard.

Several other officials have also received significant prison sentences. Former prime minister Han Duck-soo is serving 15 years, and former interior minister Lee Sang-min received nine years. Last week, former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced to three years for revealing classified military information. Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, is serving a four-year term for unrelated stock manipulation and bribery charges.

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reduced the law to a tool of insurrection in his abuse of power and posed a challenge to the rule of law.