A South Korean court on Monday sentenced former Justice Minister, Park Sung-jae to 25 years in prison for his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of participating in an insurrection linked to the brief martial law order, which plunged the country into a major political crisis before lawmakers overturned it within hours.

Park was immediately taken into custody after the ruling, having previously faced trial while not in detention.

The court held that Park played a role in actions that could have endangered citizens’ rights and threatened South Korea’s democratic system.

Trial Judge, Lee Jin-gwan said Park’s conduct brought the country close to a situation where fundamental freedoms and the constitutional order of liberal democracy could have been undermined.

The judge said the former minister disregarded concerns raised by officials during a meeting held shortly after the martial law declaration, despite warnings about the legality of the action.

Prosecutors had requested a 20-year prison term, accusing Park of using the justice system to advance the attempted insurrection and undermining the rule of law through an abuse of authority.

Investigators said Park convened senior Justice Ministry officials in the early hours following Yoon’s announcement and made inquiries about available prison space in case political opponents and other anti-government figures were arrested.

Yoon’s martial law order, announced in a late-night national television broadcast on December 3, 2024, lasted for about six hours before lawmakers gathered at the National Assembly and voted to cancel it during an emergency sitting.

The declaration sparked widespread protests, unsettled financial markets and drew concern from major allies, including the United States.

Yoon has since been convicted of leading an insurrection and remains in detention while challenging a life prison sentence.

He was also sentenced earlier this month to 30 years in prison for allegedly ordering drones to be sent into North Korea in an attempt to create a national security crisis that could be used to justify the martial law declaration.

Several former officials who served under Yoon have also received prison sentences over their alleged roles in the crisis.

Former Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo is serving a 15-year jail term, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun was jailed for three years last week for disclosing classified military information in connection with the alleged insurrection.

Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is separately serving a four-year prison term after being convicted of stock manipulation and bribery offences unrelated to the martial law controversy.