Insurrection prosecutors seek 15 years for Lee Sang-min

Former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min sits in the defendant’s seat during his trial. / Yonhap News

South Korea’s special counsel investigating the alleged insurrection sought a 15-year prison sentence on Monday for Lee Sang-min, accusing the former interior and safety minister of abandoning his constitutional duties out of personal loyalty to the president.

The sentencing request, made by the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok, matches the penalty sought for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who faces charges of aiding the alleged ringleader of the insurrection.

At the closing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors argued that Lee, identified as a central figure in the Dec. 3 emergency martial law episode, knowingly participated in acts that undermined the constitutional order.

Calling insurrection “a grave crime that destroys the constitutional system and threatens the state’s very existence,” the special counsel said the case amounted to “an act of terror against the democracy built through the blood and sweat of the people.” Prosecutors emphasized that Lee, a former judge and senior lawyer, clearly understood the illegality of emergency martial law but nonetheless joined what they described as a “palace coup” led by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

They alleged that, despite his responsibility to supervise police and fire authorities and safeguard public safety, Lee tolerated police mobilization to block the National Assembly and failed to intervene even after being briefed on the situation. Prosecutors further claimed that Yoon sought to order power and water cutoffs to critical media outlets and to manipulate public opinion through pro-government coverage, with Lee playing a “crucial role” in disabling critical journalism.

According to the prosecution, Lee “betrayed his duties as interior minister out of personal loyalty” to Yoon and in pursuit of continued access to top-level power. The special counsel also cited alleged perjury during the investigation as an aggravating factor, arguing that Lee sought to conceal his culpability and distort the historical record.

Lee, however, denied all charges through the final hearing. Questioned about whether he received or relayed any written orders regarding power or water cutoffs while at the presidential office on the day martial law was declared, he said he merely saw documents on a desk and did not receive them directly. He also denied passing any such instructions to then–National Fire Agency Commissioner Huh Seok-gon, saying he called only out of concern after seeing the documents.

Prosecutors urged the court to impose a severe sentence, warning that failure to punish senior officials involved in insurrection would risk encouraging future attempts at unconstitutional power grabs.

ⓒ "젊은 파워, 모바일 넘버원 아시아투데이"