[Column] Lee Sangmin's First Trial on Martial Law Conspiracy Charges... Wears '52' Badge and States "I Was a Lawyer Until Recently"

Entered the Courtroom Wearing an Inmate Number Badge
Yoon Absent from Third Trial on 'Obstruction of Arrest' Charges

The trial of former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, who was indicted and detained on charges of conspiring with former President Yoon Suk-yeol to declare the December 3 Martial Law and issuing orders to cut off power and water to media outlets, began on October 17.

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Sangmin Lee is seated in the defendant's chair at the first trial hearing on charges including participation in important tasks of rebellion, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on October 17, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyungjin) held the first trial hearing on the morning of October 17 for Lee Sangmin, who faces charges of participating in important tasks of rebellion, abuse of authority, and perjury. The former minister entered the courtroom wearing a navy suit and a badge on his left chest marked with inmate number 52.

During the defendant identification process, when the court asked for his date of birth and occupation, Lee replied, "May 15, 1965. I was a lawyer until just before this." The court granted the special prosecutor's team (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) permission to broadcast the proceedings and allowed media outlets to film in the courtroom, making it the first time Lee was publicly seen seated in the defendant's chair.

At the pretrial hearing held last month, Lee's legal team broadly denied the charges, stating, "The defendant opposed the martial law and clearly conveyed this to the president."

However, during the trial of former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo on October 13 on charges of aiding the leader of the rebellion, CCTV footage from the presidential office on the day martial law was declared showed Lee consulting with Han over documents and smiling. The footage also captured former President Yoon making a 'phone' gesture with his fingers toward Lee. The special prosecutor's team interprets this as Yoon instructing Lee to carry out the power and water cut-off orders.

Lee has been indicted and detained for failing to fulfill his duty as the minister responsible for martial law to prevent the president from arbitrarily declaring martial law, as well as for conveying Yoon's orders to cut off power and water to media outlets to the National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency. He is also accused of perjury for falsely testifying during the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial of former President Yoon in February, claiming that he had never issued or received such orders from the president.

Meanwhile, former President Yoon did not appear at the third trial hearing on charges including obstruction of special official duties, held the same morning by the 35th Criminal Division of the same court (Presiding Judge Baek Daehyun). Although he attended the first trial and bail hearing, he has been absent from subsequent hearings citing health reasons since his bail request was denied.