Park Sung-jae, the former Minister of Justice, is set to receive a verdict this week on charges of involvement in insurrection related to the December 3 martial law declaration. A ruling for Kim Geon-hee, accused of accepting bribes under the pretext of personnel requests, is also scheduled.
According to legal sources on June 21, the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33, led by Judge Lee Jin-gwan, will hold a sentencing hearing for Park on June 22 regarding his alleged involvement in insurrection and abuse of power.
Park is accused of convening a meeting at the Ministry of Justice on December 3, 2024, following the martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk-yeol. He allegedly directed the dispatch of prosecutors to the joint investigation headquarters, assessed the capacity of correctional facilities, and ordered staff responsible for travel bans to report for duty, thereby participating in insurrection. He is also accused of having the prosecution draft a document justifying the martial law immediately after its repeal.
Additionally, he faces charges related to a Telegram message he received from then-Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok in May 2025, asking him to ascertain the circumstances surrounding an investigation into Kim Geon-hee's luxury handbag allegations, which led him to instruct his staff to verify the matter.
During the conclusion hearing on April 27, the special prosecutor's team for insurrection, led by Cho Eun-seok, requested a 20-year prison sentence for Park. The special prosecutor emphasized that Park's actions were preemptive measures to isolate opposing forces and manipulate the judicial system, effectively turning the Ministry of Justice into an instrument of insurrection. They criticized his acceptance of requests from Kim Geon-hee, stating it was not mere communication but an active collusion that misused law enforcement authority.
The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21, led by Judge Jo Soon-pyo, will deliver a verdict on Kim Geon-hee's case regarding violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery) on June 26.
Kim is accused of accepting approximately 100 million won worth of jewelry, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and a Tiffany & Co. brooch, from Lee Bong-kwan, the chairman of Seohui Construction, between March and May 2022, in exchange for personnel requests concerning her son-in-law. She also faces charges for receiving a gold turtle worth 2.65 million won from former National Education Commission Chairman Lee Bae-yong in April 2022, and a Vacheron Constantin watch worth 39.9 million won from businessman Seo Seong-bin in September 2022, among other allegations.
The special prosecutor's team for Kim Geon-hee, led by Min Jung-ki, sought a sentence of 7 years and 6 months in prison along with a fine of 56.36 million won during the conclusion hearing last month. They stated that as the spouse of the president, Kim is expected to maintain a high standard of integrity and restraint, yet she repeatedly exploited her influence for personal gain.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.