Special Counsel Seeks Lee Sang-min 15-year Prison Term Over Martial Law Role

A former judge who once swore to uphold the law now faces a potential decade and a half behind bars for allegedly trying to dismantle it. On January 12, 2026, the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk demanded a 15-year prison sentence for former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min during his final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court.

Charges Behind the Lee Sang-min 15-year Prison Term

The prosecution's demand centers on Lee's involvement in the brief imposition of martial law by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024. According to Yonhap News, the special counsel argued that Lee played a key role in an insurrection by failing to stop the decree and instead ordering authorities to cut utilities to media outlets critical of the administration.

The case is particularly striking because Lee served as a judge for 14 years before joining the cabinet. Prosecutors emphasized that his legal expertise means he was fully aware of the illegality of his actions. Additionally, he faces perjury charges for allegedly lying during Yoon's impeachment trial regarding the instructions he received from the former president.

Timeline of the Martial Law Legal Proceedings