Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min will face an appeal court verdict on May 12, 2024 [4].

The sentencing is a critical juncture in a legal battle over the alleged subversion of democratic processes and the use of government power to suppress legislative and media functions.

Lee is accused of acting as a "rebellion important-duty personnel" [1]. Prosecutors allege that Lee followed orders from former President Yoon Suk-yeol to block access to the National Assembly and various media outlets [1]. Additionally, the charges include giving false testimony to the Constitutional Court [1].

The legal proceedings have moved to the Seoul High Court’s rebellion-dedicated division following a previous trial at the Seoul Central District Court [1]. During the first-instance trial, the court handed down a sentence of seven years in prison [1].

Despite the initial seven-year sentence, the special prosecutor has maintained a more severe demand for punishment. In the current appeal process, the special prosecutor is again seeking a prison term of 15 years [2].

The hearing is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. [3] on May 12, 2024 [4]. The court will determine if the initial sentence should be upheld, increased, or overturned based on the evidence regarding the alleged rebellion.

Lee has remained a central figure in the investigations into the former administration's conduct. The case highlights the tension between executive orders and the legal boundaries of state security, and governance.

“The special prosecutor is again seeking a 15-year prison term.”

This case serves as a legal test for the definition of 'rebellion' within the South Korean judicial system. By targeting a high-ranking official for executing presidential orders to block the National Assembly, the court is weighing whether following superior commands absolves a minister of criminal liability when those commands infringe upon constitutional democratic functions.