"Power And Water Cut Orders To Media" Former Minister Lee Sangmin Appeals Seven-Year First-Trial Sentence
Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in the first trial on charges of participating in an insurrection, including conveying orders to cut power and water to media outlets during the December 3 emergency martial law, has filed an appeal.
Lee Sangmin, former Minister of the Interior and Safety, sits in the defendant's seat after appearing at the first trial hearing on charges including performing key roles in an insurrection at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 17th. 2025.10.17 Photo by Joint Press Corps
View original imageAccording to the legal community on the 14th, Lee’s side submitted a notice of appeal to the 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyungjin) the previous day.
Earlier, on the 12th, the 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Lee to seven years in prison on charges including engaging in key duties related to insurrection. Special Prosecutor for Insurrection Cho Eunseok’s team had previously sought a 15-year prison term for Lee.
The first-instance court ruled that the December 3 emergency martial law constituted an insurrection under the Criminal Act and found Lee guilty of engaging in key duties related to insurrection.
The court also found Lee guilty of perjury, determining that during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial of former President Yoon in February last year, he gave false testimony by stating, in effect, that he had not ordered power and water cuts and had never received such orders from the president.
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However, the court acquitted him of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, a charge based on allegations that he caused then-Fire Agency Commissioner Heo Seokgon to perform duties outside his authority by relaying orders to cut power and water so that the agency could be in a state of readiness to respond immediately to related police requests.
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