▲ Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who was indicted on charges of participating in the December 3 emergency martial law and accommodating investigation favors for Kim Keonhee, attends the first-instance sentencing hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on September 22.
Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, indicted on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law, has faced a demand for a 25-year prison sentence in his appeal trial.
Park was previously sentenced to 25 years in prison in the first trial.
During the appeal sentencing hearing held on September 29 by Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Yoon Sung-sik), the special counsel team led by Cho Eunseok requested the court to "sentence the defendant to 25 years in prison, the same as the sentence handed down in the first trial."
The special counsel team rebuked Park, stating, "On the night of December 3, 2024, the defendant directly witnessed the crime of insurrection yet failed to apply the standards of the law. Instead, at the National Assembly, which had been labeled a 'criminal den' by the insurrection forces including Yoon Suk Yeol, he prepared to wield his authority against anti-state and pro-North Korean forces." They added, "Instead of standing with the people and the rule of law, he took the side of the insurrection forces and voluntarily became the limbs of Yoon Suk Yeol to assist in a self-coup."
The team also pointed out that Park knew the proclamation issued during the emergency martial law was unconstitutional and illegal, and that he ignored warnings from Justice Ministry officials regarding the illegality of the martial law.
Furthermore, they requested, "Please deliver a stern judgment of the law so that high-ranking public officials like the defendant never appear in this land again."
Park is accused of engaging in key duties of an insurrection after the emergency martial law was declared by convening a meeting of Justice Ministry officials, ordering the review of dispatching prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters of the Martial Law Command, checking the capacity of correctional facilities, and instructing employees in charge of travel bans to report to work.
He is also charged with abuse of authority by ordering the capacity check of correctional facilities and the reporting of travel ban staff, as well as instructing the prosecution division of the Justice Ministry to draft an "abuse of authority document" containing logic to justify the martial law immediately after its lifting.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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