S.Korean minister jailed for aiding martial law bid

South Korea’s former interior minister was sentenced to seven years in prison for abetting then-president Yoon Suk-yeol’s brief declaration of martial law in 2024.

Lee Sang-min’s decision Thursday came a week before a different judge at the same Seoul court ruled whether Yoon’s actions amounted to rebellion, a crime for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Lee, who ran the ministry of interior and security, was convicted for helping implement the declaration and relaying Yoon’s orders to the country’s police and fire chiefs to cut off water and electricity to news organizations critical of his policies.

The instructions were not carried out as martial law was quickly lifted after MPs broke the military and police blockade in the National Assembly and voted unanimously to lift it.

Lee denied ever giving or receiving instructions to cut off news organizations’ services; He disputed the accounts of other officials, including former National Fire Service general commissioner Heo Seok-gon, who said Lee conveyed such orders by phone.

Lee also denied conspiring or planning to declare martial law.

Judge Ryu Kyung-jin said that the statements of other officials, security camera footage and other evidence clearly showed that Lee tried to carry out Yoon’s orders, and that it was indisputable that Lee played a significant role in enforcing martial law.

However, the judge acquitted Lee of the lesser charge of abuse of authority due to lack of evidence.

Lee’s legal team did not immediately say whether it would appeal.

Prosecutors had asked for a 15-year prison sentence.

Lee is the second member of Yoon’s cabinet to be convicted in connection with martial law.

Former prime minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison but appealed.

Conservative Yoon argued that martial law was a necessary action against liberals, whom he described as “anti-state” forces that were blocking his agenda with a legislative majority.

He was subsequently dismissed and has been detained since July, while facing multiple criminal cases; The charge of rebellion carried the harshest penalty.