Lee Sang-min sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in the 2024 martial law declaration that plunged the nation into political turmoil
Former South Korean interior minister Lee Sang-min has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the controversial martial law crisis that engulfed the country in 2024, marking one of the most significant convictions stemming from the political upheaval.
The Seoul court found Lee guilty of abuse of power and other charges related to his actions during the brief but tumultuous period when martial law was declared, a move that sent shockwaves through South Korea’s democracy and sparked massive public protests. The verdict represents a strong judicial rebuke of officials involved in what many have called one of the darkest episodes in the nation’s recent political history.
Lee, who served as interior minister at the time of the crisis, was determined to have played a key role in implementing the martial law measures, which included restrictions on civil liberties and the deployment of security forces. Prosecutors argued that his actions violated constitutional principles and undermined democratic governance.
The martial law declaration in 2024 triggered widespread domestic and international condemnation, with critics warning that it represented a dangerous erosion of South Korea’s hard-won democratic institutions. The crisis ultimately proved short-lived, but its reverberations have continued to shape the country’s political landscape.
Lee’s sentencing follows a series of legal proceedings against officials connected to the martial law episode. He maintained during the trial that he was following orders and acting in what he believed to be the national interest, but the court rejected these arguments, ruling that his position required him to uphold constitutional norms regardless of political pressure.
The verdict has been welcomed by civic groups and opposition lawmakers who have called for full accountability for those responsible for the crisis. However, supporters of the former minister have criticized the sentence as excessive, arguing that he was being made a scapegoat for broader systemic failures.
The case continues to resonate in South Korean politics, serving as a reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions and the importance of holding government officials accountable for actions that threaten constitutional order.