Sungjae Park

On June 22, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his role in the December 3, 2024, martial law declaration. The court convicted Park of insurrection and abuse of power, finding he facilitated the move by ordering officials to prepare correctional facilities for political arrests, dispatching prosecutors to martial law bodies, and enforcing travel bans. Separately, the court dismissed charges regarding the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act—which alleged Park improperly handled an investigation into First Lady Kim Keon Hee at her request—ruling the matter fell outside the special counsel’s investigation mandate. Previously, in 2025, the Constitutional Court dismissed a National Assembly impeachment motion against Park, finding insufficient evidence at that time that he aided the martial law imposition. Park is currently in custody and has announced his intention to appeal the 25-year sentence.