Seoul: Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae on Monday denied all charges at his trial over allegations he played a key role in an insurrection during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid in 2024. Park's legal team made the case during the first hearing of his trial at the Seoul Central District Court after special counsel Cho Eun-suk indicted him last month over his alleged role in Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park's defense argued that he actively opposed the martial law declaration as a member of the Cabinet. They stated that Park ultimately failed to dissuade Yoon and expressed Park's profound remorse toward the people and his sense of deep shame for causing confusion to the constitutional order.
The defense team claimed that Park was unaware of Yoon's plan to impose martial law and only discussed his role as a minister to prevent confusion under martial law. They rejected the special counsel's claim that Park supported the declaration. Park is accused of actively participating in Yoon's imposition of martial law by convening a meeting of senior ministry officials and ordering the possible dispatch of prosecutors to a martial law-related organ, among other allegations.
Park's defense also denied allegations that the former minister violated a law banning improper solicitation by acting on a request from Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, to help clear her of various criminal charges. The hearing took place after the special counsel team demanded the death penalty for Yoon earlier this month on charges of leading an insurrection through his failed martial law attempt. The verdict for that trial will be made Feb. 19.