Lee Sangmin's Side Denies All Charges at First Trial, Says "Opposed Martial Law" Over Alleged Media Power and Water Cut Orders

Special Prosecutor: "Participation and Perjury"
Lee Sangmin's Side: "No Order for Power or Water Cuts"
Formal Trial Set for October 17

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, who was indicted and detained on charges of conspiring with former President Yoon Sukyeol to declare the December 3 Martial Law and ordering power and water cuts to media outlets, denied all charges at his first trial.

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, who is accused of power outage and water cut, perjury, and engaging in important duties related to rebellion, remained silent in response to reporters' questions as he appeared before the Special Prosecutor's Office for Rebellion in Seocho-dong, Seoul on July 25, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kang Wansu) held the first preparatory hearing on the 19th for Lee, who has been indicted on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion, abuse of authority, and perjury.

Lee did not appear in court that day. The preparatory hearing is a procedure held before the formal trial to confirm the defendant's position on the charges and to plan the examination of evidence, and the defendant is not required to attend.

Lee Yoonje, special prosecutor of the Cho Eunseok Special Prosecutor Team, which is investigating charges of rebellion and treason related to the martial law, explained the indictment: "The defendant participated in the illegal December 3 Martial Law declaration rebellion led by former President Yoon and engaged in important duties, abusing his authority as Minister of the Interior and Safety. To conceal this, he even committed perjury at the Constitutional Court regarding the situation at the time."

Lee's defense attorney stated that they broadly deny the charges. The defense argued, "The defendant opposed the martial law and clearly communicated this to the president. Someone who conspired or plotted martial law would not have traveled to the provinces to participate in a kimchi-making event, nor would he have hastily returned to Seoul by booking train tickets three times."

Regarding the suspicion that Lee conveyed Yoon's order to cut power and water to media outlets to the head of the National Fire Agency, the defense said, "He never gave such an order, and the head of the National Fire Agency only used the word 'nuance.' Even if there were many statements made to investigative agencies on this matter, the court is expected to consider the credibility of such evidence in light of the hearsay rule, so for now, we simply state that we deny the allegations."

On the perjury charge at the Constitutional Court, the defense countered, "There may have been parts where he said he did not remember, but he testified according to his memory, and there was no statement or testimony contrary to what he remembered."

The special prosecutor's team requested the court to proceed swiftly, citing the seriousness of the case and Article 11 of the Special Prosecutor Act, which specifies the trial period for indicted cases.

Special Prosecutor Lee emphasized, "This case concerns the restoration of the collapsed constitutional order and has the attention of the entire nation. It is the duty of the criminal justice process to stabilize society and swiftly end national division through a prompt trial."

The court concluded the preparatory hearing and scheduled the first formal trial for the 17th of next month. After the first trial, hearings will be held once a week.

Lee was indicted and detained for failing to fulfill his duty as the minister in charge of martial law during peacetime to prevent the president from arbitrarily declaring martial law, and for conveying Yoon's order to cut power and water to media outlets to the National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency. He is also accused of giving false testimony during the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial of former President Yoon in February, claiming that he had never issued such orders nor received related instructions from the president.