South Korea Sentences Former Justice Minister for 25 years

Photo by Austin Curtis on Unsplash‍ ‍

On June 22, 2026, former South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law attempt in December 2024. The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of insurrection, ruling that he used the authority of his office to help implement the unconstitutional martial law decree.

According to the court, Park ordered officials to prepare correctional facilities for the detention of opposition politicians, instructed immigration authorities to arrange travel bans, and directed subordinates to produce documents intended to legitimize the martial law measures. The court concluded that these actions amounted to active participation in the attempt to consolidate power through the inappropriate use of extraordinary measures. Although Park denied the charges, he received a 25-year prison sentence, which came to be five years longer than the term requested by special prosecutors. The ruling is part of South Korea's broader effort to prosecute senior officials involved in the martial law attempt.

Read more about this case here, and about continued litigation regarding the sentence of President Yoon here.

Photo by Austin Curtis on Unsplash.