Former South Korean Justice Minister Park Sung-jae has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in the first instance of his trial. He was convicted on charges related to his involvement in the December 12th-13th emergency martial law declaration and subsequent crackdown in 1979. The sentence is five years heavier than the prosecution’s initial request. Park was accused of participating in the military coup led by then-General Chun Doo-hwan. The court found him complicit in suppressing dissent and violating citizens’ rights during the period of martial law. This ruling marks a significant development in ongoing legal efforts to address past authoritarian actions in South Korea. Further appeals are expected.