Special Prosecutor Seeks 25-Year Sentence for Sungjae Park in Insurrection Appeals Trial: “No More Officials Like This Should Appear”

"Sided with Insurrection Forces Over the People and Rule of Law"

Request for 25-Year Sentence, Same as Initial Verdict

In the appeals trial of former Minister of Justice Sungjae Park, who was indicted on charges of participating in key insurrection duties in connection with the December 3 Martial Law, Special Prosecutor Eunseok Cho’s team has requested a 25-year prison sentence.

Former Minister of Justice Sungjae Park is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court on the 13th for the detention warrant hearing. 2025.11.13 Photo by Dongju Yoon

On the 29th, at the appeals trial held by the First Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (presiding judge: Seongsik Yoon), the special prosecutor's team requested the court to "impose the same sentence of 25 years in prison as delivered in the first trial."

The special prosecutors argued, "The defendant witnessed the act of insurrection firsthand yet made no attempt to apply the yardstick of the law," adding, "He sided with the insurrectionists against the people and the rule of law, became an aide to Seokyeol Yoon, and facilitated the loyalist coup."

The prosecution also pointed out that former Minister Park was aware of the unconstitutionality and illegality of the martial law proclamation at the time, and he ignored the warnings of Ministry of Justice executives about the illegality of the martial law. The special prosecutors stressed, "We urge the court to deliver a stern verdict, ensuring that no high-ranking official like this appears again in this country."

Former Minister Park is accused of convening a Ministry of Justice executive meeting after the proclamation of martial law, ordering a review of dispatching prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters under the Martial Law Command, checking correctional facility capacity, and instructing staff responsible for exit bans to report to work.

During the first trial in June, the court found him guilty of participating in key insurrection duties and abuse of authority, sentenced him to 25 years in prison, and ordered his immediate detention in court. At that time, the special prosecutor's team had requested a 20-year sentence.

The allegation that he agreed to requests to halt the investigation into First Lady Gunhee Kim was dismissed in the first trial on the grounds that it "did not fall under the scope of the special prosecutor's investigation." This acquittal was finalized after the prosecutors withdrew their appeal on this charge.

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