Lead

A special counsel team in South Korea has filed an appeal against the nine-year prison sentence handed down to former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min for his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law declaration in December 2024. The appeal, filed on May 18 with the Seoul High Court, challenges the court's partial acquittal of Lee on separate abuse of power charges, according to Yonhap News.

Coverage Comparison

Three reports from Yonhap News — South Korea's leading wire service — documented the legal proceedings. All reports consistently noted that the Seoul High Court increased Lee's sentence from seven to nine years on May 12, after finding him guilty of playing a key role in an insurrection. The reports also agreed that the court upheld Lee's acquittal on charges of abusing his power by instructing the then head of the National Fire Agency to act beyond his duties.

The most detailed account added context about the court's reasoning and Lee's conduct during the proceedings, including a finding of perjury. The latest report, published on May 18, focused on the special counsel team's appeal, describing it as a likely challenge to the partial acquittal.

Key Claims

  • The Seoul High Court increased Lee Sang-min's prison sentence to nine years from the seven-year term imposed by the lower court, according to all three Yonhap reports. The court convicted Lee of playing a key role in an insurrection by conveying orders from former President Yoon Suk Yeol to cut off water and power to media outlets critical of the administration at the time.
  • One report detailed that Yoon allegedly gave these orders immediately after declaring martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The court also found Lee guilty of perjury for testifying during Yoon's impeachment trial that he had not received such instructions.
  • The court criticized Lee's attitude throughout the investigation and trial, stating that he sought to avoid legal responsibility and conceal the truth, as reported in one account. The court said Lee appeared well aware of the illegality of the emergency martial law but still engaged in key tasks of the insurrection.
  • All reports noted that the appeals court upheld the lower court's decision to acquit Lee of abusing his power by making the then fire agency chief act beyond his duties.
  • A single report, published on May 18, stated that the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk filed an appeal against the nine-year sentence, likely challenging the partial acquittal.

Perspectives

The court's perspective, as conveyed in its ruling, views Lee's actions as a deliberate participation in an unconstitutional and illegal insurrection. The court emphasized that Lee had the authority to decide whether to implement the orders and chose to follow them, demonstrating awareness of their illegality.

Lee's defense, as implied by his acquittal on abuse of power charges and his reported denials during the impeachment trial, appears to argue that his actions were not separate crimes beyond the insurrection conviction. The special counsel's appeal indicates that prosecutors believe the sentence or the partial acquittal does not fully reflect the gravity of Lee's conduct.

The case remains part of the broader legal fallout from Yoon's martial law declaration, with proceedings continuing in the appellate courts.