A South Korean court has sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison over his role in the failed martial law declaration made by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of taking part in an “insurrection” after prosecutors accused him of supporting actions linked to Yoon’s controversial move. The verdict was shared through a recording posted online.
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Yoon announced martial law during a late-night address in December 2024, but the decision lasted only about six hours. Lawmakers quickly gathered at the National Assembly and voted against the declaration, forcing it to end. 
Yoon was later convicted of leading an insurrection and is currently being held while he appeals a life imprisonment sentence. He also received a 30-year prison term earlier this month over allegations that he sent drones to North Korea to “manufacture a national crisis” as a reason to introduce martial law.
Prosecutors said Park held a meeting with justice ministry officials shortly after the martial law announcement. They claimed he discussed prison space in case authorities moved to arrest people considered opponents of the government.
Judge Lee Jin-gwan said Park’s actions placed the country’s democratic system at risk.
“Due to the actions of the defendant, the country nearly faced a situation in which the people’s fundamental rights and the basic order of liberal democracy could have been violated,” the judge said.
The judge added that Park failed to act despite concerns raised during the meeting about the legality of the move.
As justice minister, Park “ignored the various opinions that had been raised at the meeting regarding the illegality of the Dec 3 insurrection”, Lee said.
Prosecutors had requested a 20-year jail term, accusing Park of misusing his position and weakening the rule of law.
They said he had “reduced the law to a tool of insurrection in his abuse of power and posed a challenge to the rule of law”.
Park, who had remained free during his trial, was taken into custody after the court delivered its judgment.
The martial law declaration caused major political unrest in South Korea. It sparked public protests, affected the country’s financial markets and surprised international partners, including the United States.
Several former officials linked to Yoon’s administration have also received prison sentences. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving 15 years, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min received a nine-year sentence.
Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was sentenced to three years in prison for exposing classified military information connected to the alleged insurrection.
Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is also serving a four-year prison sentence over separate charges involving stock manipulation and bribery.
