Seoul, June 22: Former South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a district court on Monday. The court found him guilty of playing a significant role in a rebellion by attempting to impose martial law under former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a special investigation team had initially sought a 20-year sentence for Park, but the Seoul Central District Court extended it by five years. The court ordered his immediate detention, expressing concerns that he might destroy evidence.
The investigation team had previously accused Park of calling a meeting with senior ministry officials on December 3, 2024, following Yoon Suk-yeol’s announcement of martial law, and of abusing his position.
The court accepted the special investigation team’s argument that Park discussed steps such as reviewing the deployment of prosecutors for an organization supporting martial law, checking the capacity of correctional facilities, and preparing to detain prominent politicians who were allegedly to be arrested under martial law.
The court stated, “The defendant turned away from his duty to uphold the Constitution and participated in the rebellion with the belief that it could succeed.”
Park now joins other former members of Yoon Suk-yeol’s cabinet, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who have also been convicted for their roles in the rebellion.
In February, former President Yoon Suk-yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment for his attempts to impose martial law, and he has appealed the decision.
Meanwhile, the court dismissed additional charges against Park related to violations of anti-corruption laws, stating that the case did not fall under the jurisdiction of the special investigation team. The team had also accused Park of giving improper instructions to his subordinates to investigate certain information related to the prosecution at the request of Yoon’s wife, Kim Ki-yeon.
My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
