Special Prosecution Seeks 15-Year Prison Term for Sangmin Lee: "No Remorse After Participating in Praetorian Coup, Only Concerned for Own Safety"

Accused of Ordering Power and Water Cutoffs to Media Outlets During Martial Law
Lee Sangmin Repeatedly Denies Charges at Final Hearing
"Says He Did Not Receive Martial Law Power and Water Cutoff Order Document"

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Sangmin Lee, who is accused of ordering power and water cutoffs to media outlets during the martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the prosecution.

Sangmin Lee, former Minister of the Interior and Safety, is attending the first trial session on charges including engaging in important duties related to rebellion at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on October 17, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On January 12, at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 32 (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyungjin), the special prosecution team for rebellion (Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) requested this sentence during the final hearing for Lee’s charges, which include engaging in important duties related to rebellion.

The special prosecution team stated, "This case is an act of terror against the democracy of the Republic of Korea, which was built with blood and sweat," adding, "Despite being the Minister of the Interior and Safety, responsible for the safety of the people by directing and supervising the police and fire departments, the defendant participated in the president’s praetorian coup."

They continued, "As an elite legal professional who served as a judge for 15 years, the defendant could not have been unaware that cutting off power and water to media outlets was intended to control the press and that it constituted a serious crime that could result in significant casualties. By imposing a severe punishment, we must remind high-ranking officials of their duties and ensure that such tragic history is never repeated in the Republic of Korea."

During the trial, Lee once again insisted that he neither received nor issued any instructions to cut off power and water to media outlets during the period of martial law. When the special prosecution team asked during cross-examination, "You were in the president’s office from 8:26 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. that day. Did you not receive any instructions or documents regarding the power and water cutoffs during those 34 minutes?" Lee replied, "I only saw a document placed on the desk; I did not receive anything directly."

The special prosecution team then referred to CCTV footage from the presidential office, showing Lee taking a document out of his suit jacket pocket and reading it between 9:48 and 9:51 p.m., and asked about the contents of the document. Lee responded, "My wife had to come up from Ulsan to Seoul, and I was worried about whether she could arrive on time, so it is likely that I took out the schedule for that day to check."

Lee was arrested and indicted last August on charges of failing to fulfill his duty as the minister responsible for martial law to prevent the president from arbitrarily declaring martial law, and for relaying former President Yoon’s orders to cut off power and water to media outlets to the National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency. He also faces charges of perjury for testifying during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial of former President Yoon in February that he had never issued such instructions nor received any related orders from the president.