Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan, leading Criminal Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court, today found former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae guilty of involvement in insurrection and sentenced him to 25 years in prison and ordered his detention in court.
The special investigation team for insurrection had sought 20 years in prison for the former minister, but the first instance court imposed a heavier sentence.
[Lee Jin-gwan/Presiding Judge]
"Defendant Park Sung-jae is sentenced to 25 years in prison."
After the sentencing, when the court asked for his opinion on detention in court, the former minister, appearing shocked, appealed saying "I have never refused to appear or attempted to flee, and my residence is stable," but the court decided to order his detention.
The court first determined that "the former minister was aware of the constitutional violation purpose and illegality regarding the December 3rd martial law."
While stating that "the former minister damaged the basic rights of the people and the fundamental order of liberal democracy by sympathizing with the unconstitutional and illegal martial law,
and not only failed to cooperate with the investigation, but systematically responded to the National Assembly's impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and the insurrection investigation by abusing the authority of the Justice Minister again," the court strongly criticized.
The court stated that "it is recognized that the former minister's instructions regarding banning the departure of violators of martial law proclamations, securing capacity at Seoul Detention Center, and dispatching personnel to the joint investigation headquarters during former President Yoon's martial law constituted the execution of important insurrection duties."
In particular, he instructed the Prosecutor General to cooperate in dispatching prosecutors to the Martial Law Command's joint investigation unit,
and the court determined that these instructions were essential prerequisite conditions for banning the departure and detention of violators of martial law proclamations.
Shim Woo-jung will likely follow suit soon..
