Lee Sangmin

Lee Sangmin, the former South Korean Minister of the Interior and Safety, has been convicted for his role in the December 3, 2024, emergency martial law decree, which courts have characterized as an act of insurrection. On May 12, 2026, the Seoul High Court sentenced Lee to nine years in prison for participating in major insurrection-related tasks and for perjury. This appellate verdict increased his initial seven-year sentence handed down by the Seoul Central District Court on February 12, 2026. The charges stem from Lee relaying directives from former President Yoon Suk Yeol to the National Fire Agency to cut off electricity and water to specific media outlets—such as MBC, JTBC, The Hankyoreh, and Kyunghyang Shinmun—to suppress criticism of the administration. The court found that Lee, despite his legal background and responsibility for public safety, actively facilitated these plans and later committed perjury during the Constitutional Court’s 2025 impeachment proceedings by denying his involvement. Lee was acquitted of charges related to abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights. Both Lee and the special prosecution team have filed appeals to the Supreme Court regarding the nine-year sentence.