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Morning Edition · Monday, June 22, 2026Published at 6:14 AM EDT · New York
South Korea Sentences Ex-Justice Minister to 25 Years Over Martial-Law Bid
A Seoul court handed down a sentence longer than prosecutors sought, deepening accountability for the brief 2024 martial-law episode under former President Yoon.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 2024 martial-law declaration, as reported by the Yonhap news agency. The term exceeded the 20 years sought by the special-counsel team, signaling how seriously the judiciary is treating the episode.
The court found Park guilty of ordering officials to review plans to deploy prosecutors to a joint investigation headquarters and of drafting a document to justify the martial-law declaration after the National Assembly had voted to lift it. Yoon's martial law lasted only about six hours before lawmakers convened in an emergency session and overturned it.
The sentence is among the heaviest so far in the series of prosecutions stemming from the failed attempt to seize power. It underscores South Korea's effort to establish firm legal accountability for an attempt to subvert constitutional order in one of Asia's major democracies and largest economies.
What this means
Markets generally reward credible institutions, and South Korea's willingness to impose severe penalties on senior officials for an assault on constitutional order reinforces the rule of law that underpins investor confidence in a major export economy. The decisive judicial response reduces the lingering political risk that the 2024 crisis introduced.
What to watch
- The outcome of related cases, including the former president's own prosecution, because the consistency of sentencing will shape perceptions of South Korea's institutional stability.
- Any political backlash or appeals, since a contested process could revive the uncertainty the verdicts are meant to settle.
Observations to monitor, not financial advice.
Source: Kommersant
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