15-Year Prison Term Sought Again for Lee Sangmin in Appellate Trial Over Media Power and Water Cut Orders

First Trial in January Resulted in a Seven-Year Prison Sentence

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, who was indicted on charges of participating in the rebellion by relaying orders for power and water supply cuts to media companies during the 12·3 Martial Law, faced a prosecution demand for a 15-year prison sentence in the appellate trial as well.

On April 22, the Special Prosecutor's Team for Rebellion, led by Cho Eon-seok, requested this sentence during the final hearing of Lee's appellate trial before the Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Yoon Seongsik), which is responsible for rebellion cases at the Seoul High Court. The special prosecutor had also sought a 15-year sentence in the first trial. However, the first-instance court acquitted Lee of abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights in February, instead sentencing him to seven years in prison.

The special prosecutor's team stated, "His actions stand in stark contrast to the soldiers and police officers who courageously refused orders during martial law," and asserted, "He participated in a crime that destroyed the constitutional order." The team further argued that Lee was guilty of abuse of power (for which he was acquitted in the first trial), claiming, "Based on instructions from former President Yoon, he ordered the head of the National Fire Agency to cooperate with power and water supply cuts, thereby compelling the agency to perform duties it was not obligated to carry out."

Lee Sangmin is accused of instructing the National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency to cooperate with orders for power and water supply cuts to media organizations, following directives from former President Yoon on December 3, 2024. He also faces charges of perjury for testifying falsely during the Constitutional Court's impeachment hearing of former President Yoon in February 2025, claiming he had neither issued such orders nor received relevant instructions from the president.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.