Former South Korean Justice Minister Sentenced to 25 Years for Insurrection Role

In a significant ruling, South Korea's former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in an insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. The Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of abusing his power and playing a crucial role in the insurrection. This ruling follows a series of convictions among Yoon's cabinet members, highlighting the ongoing legal repercussions of the controversial martial law attempt. Park's case raises questions about constitutional duties and the integrity of government officials during times of crisis.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 22, 2026, 15:09 IST

Severe Sentence for Park Sung-jae

File image of S Korea's ex-justice minister Park Sung-jae (Photo: News Media)

Seoul, June 22: The former Justice Minister of South Korea, Park Sung-jae, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after a district court found him guilty of significant involvement in an insurrection linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt to impose martial law.

The Seoul Central District Court issued this substantial sentence, exceeding the 20-year term that had been requested by the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk. Park was taken into custody immediately due to concerns regarding potential evidence tampering.

Park was indicted on charges of insurrection and abuse of power for convening a meeting of senior ministry officials following Yoon's martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

The court upheld the special counsel's claims, stating that Park had organized the meeting to discuss the deployment of prosecutors to a body supporting martial law, assess the readiness of correctional facilities for detaining politicians and other key figures, and instruct officials responsible for travel bans to report for duty.

"The defendant ultimately abandoned his constitutional duties, believing the insurrection could succeed, and chose to participate in it instead," the court remarked.

Park is now among several members of Yoon's administration who have faced convictions for their roles in the insurrection, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

In a related case, Yoon was sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating the insurrection through his brief martial law enforcement, although he has appealed this decision.

Additionally, the court dismissed other charges against Park related to anti-corruption law violations, stating they were outside the scope of the special counsel's investigation.

The special counsel had also charged Park with issuing improper orders to his subordinates at the request of Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, in May 2024, regarding the prosecution's investigation into her corruption claims.