Special counsel seeks 25-year prison term for ex-justice minister over martial law role

A special counsel team has requested a 25-year prison sentence for ex-Justice Minister Park Sung-jae in his appeal trial, stemming from his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed 2024 martial law initiative. This request was made at the Seoul High Court by special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team, following a lower court's decision to sentence Park to the same term in June on charges including participation in an insurrection.

Park is accused of organizing a meeting with senior ministry officials after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, to discuss subsequent actions, such as sending prosecutors to a martial law body. According to Cho's team, Park chose to ally with the insurrection forces and support a self-coup, instead of standing with the public and the rule of law. They portrayed Park as the tool of Yoon Suk Yeol, aiding in his self-coup by serving as his "hands and feet."