By Paul Joseph
A South Korean court has sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison over his role in the controversial 2024 martial law declaration linked to former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by the Seoul Central District Court, which found Park guilty of insurrection for his involvement in actions connected to the short-lived imposition of martial law that plunged South Korea into one of its most serious political crises in recent years.
Park, who appeared in court on June 22 for the verdict, was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
Martial law fallout
The case stems from Yoon Suk Yeol’s late-night declaration of martial law in December 2024, a move that lasted only about six hours before lawmakers convened an emergency session and voted it down, effectively reversing the order and preventing full military enforcement.
Yoon has since been convicted of leading an insurrection and remains in detention while appealing a life sentence. He has also received a separate 30-year prison term in a related case involving allegations that he ordered drone operations into North Korea in an attempt to escalate national security tensions.
Court findings on Park’s role
Prosecutors argued that Park played a key administrative role during the immediate aftermath of the declaration, including convening Justice Ministry officials to assess detention capacity for possible mass arrests of political opponents.
The court held that Park ignored internal legal warnings and proceeded with preparations that supported what it described as an attempted insurrection.
Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan said Park’s conduct contributed to a situation that nearly threatened constitutional order and civil liberties in South Korea.
Wider crackdown on officials
Park’s sentencing is part of a broader wave of convictions tied to the failed martial law attempt. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving a 15-year sentence, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min received nine years. Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was also jailed for three years over the disclosure of classified military information linked to the incident.
Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is separately serving a four-year sentence in a corruption case involving stock manipulation and bribery.
The latest ruling marks another major development in a case that continues to reshape South Korea’s political landscape and accountability framework following the failed 2024 martial law episode.
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