Former Justice Minister Park Seongjae Faces First Trial Verdict Today on 'Insurrection Involvement' Charges

Cho Eunseok’s Special Investigation Team Requests 20-Year Prison Sentence

The first trial verdict for former Minister of Justice Park Seongjae, who was indicted for his involvement in the 12·3 Martial Law and for granting a request related to the investigation of First Lady Kim Keonhee, will be delivered on June 22.

Park Sungjae, former Minister of Justice, being summoned to the office of Jo Eunseok, Special Prosecutor for the Coup, set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on October 23 last year. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Jinkwan, will hold a sentencing hearing for Park's case, which includes charges such as participation in key duties related to insurrection and abuse of authority, at 2:00 p.m. on this day.

At the closing hearing on April 27, the Special Investigation Team on Treason led by Cho Eunseok stated, "He actively supported and aided the crimes committed under Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law, taking the lead in justifying the insurrection and providing procedural support," and requested a sentence of 20 years in prison.

After the declaration of martial law in 2024, Park is accused of convening a meeting of senior officials at the Ministry of Justice and participating in the process by considering the dispatch of prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters, inspecting the capacity of correctional facilities, and instructing staff in charge of travel bans to report to work. He is also charged with directing the Prosecution Division of the Ministry of Justice to draft a "document of authority abuse" containing justifications for martial law immediately after it was lifted.

Additionally, he faces charges of issuing inappropriate instructions to subordinates after receiving a request from the First Lady in May last year to determine the background behind the formation of a dedicated investigation team at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for the luxury bag bribery case.

However, Park's defense argues that he was only performing his duties as Minister of Justice in the context of the declaration of martial law and maintains his innocence.

On the same day, the court will also deliver a verdict for Lee Wankyu, former chief of the Ministry of Government Legislation, who was sentenced to three years in prison for perjury in the National Assembly by falsely testifying that there were no discussions about martial law during a secret meeting held immediately after the martial law was lifted.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.