Appeals court increases ex-interior minister's sentence to 9 years over martial law involvement

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min attends the first hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, April 17. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

An appeals court on Tuesday increased former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min's prison sentence to nine years from seven over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

The Seoul High Court handed down the sentence after convicting Lee of playing a key role in an insurrection by conveying Yoon's orders to the then chief of the National Fire Agency to seal off the National Assembly and cut off power and water to media outlets critical of the administration at the time.

Yoon allegedly gave the 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 did not receive such instructions from the then president.

"The defendant appears to have been well aware of the illegality of the emergency martial law (order) but still engaged in key tasks of the insurrection," the court said. "Though he was in a position and had the authority to decide for himself whether to implement the orders to cut off power and water, ultimately he chose to follow the unconstitutional and illegal orders."

The bench also chastised the former minister for his attitude throughout the investigation and trial proceedings, saying he sought to avoid legal responsibility and conceal the truth.

The lower court had sentenced Lee to a seven-year prison term but the appellate court found it lenient for the gravity of his crimes.

The appeals court also upheld the lower court's ruling in acquitting him of charges that he abused his power by making the then fire agency chief act beyond the scope of his duties.