Appeal trial on ex-interior minister's martial law role to begin March 18

▲ Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min (C) attends his sentencing hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Feb. 12, 2026, in this file photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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Appeal trial on ex-interior minister's martial law role to begin March 18

SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- The appeal trial of former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who was sentenced by a district court to seven years in prison over his role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition in 2024, is scheduled to begin in the middle of this month.

The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 1, recently designated to handle insurrection cases, said Friday it will hold its first hearing on Lee's case at 2 p.m. on March 18.

Lee is accused of ordering the cutoff of water and electricity to media outlets after receiving martial law-related instructions from Yoon on Dec. 3, 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court handed down the prison term to Lee last month, finding him guilty of playing a key role in an insurrection.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team, which demanded an imprisonment of 15 years for Lee, as well as the former minister, appealed the ruling.

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