Former Minister Lee Denies Martial Law Utility Cutoff Charges

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who was arrested and indicted on charges including issuing orders to cut off electr...

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who was arrested and indicted on charges including issuing orders to cut off electricity and water supply to media companies during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration, denied all charges at his first trial on the 17th. On the 17th, the 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyung-jin) held the trial for former Minister Lee on charges of engaging in important tasks of an insurrection, abuse of authority, and perjury. The trial was recorded and broadcast live after the court approved the insurrection special counsel’s request for remote participation.

Former Minister Lee appeared in court wearing a white dress shirt and a dark blue suit. He looked emaciated, having lost weight, and wore a name tag with the detainee number ‘52’ on his left chest. When the court asked for his date of birth and occupation, he replied, “May 25, 1965, and I was a lawyer until just recently.”

After the court completed the preliminary examination to confirm the defendant’s personal details, the special counsel outlined the charges, including the orders to cut off electricity and water supply to media companies and perjury at the Constitutional Court. The special counsel stated, “Former Minister Lee engaged in important tasks of an insurrection by ordering the cutoff of electricity and water supply to specific media companies according to a time-based blockade plan during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. He also abused his authority as Minister of the Interior and Safety by instructing National Fire Agency employees to prepare for cutting off electricity and water supply to media companies, making them perform tasks beyond their duties.” Additionally, the special counsel claimed, “To cover this up, he gave false testimony during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol,” adding, “As a result, the truth was not properly revealed to the public for a considerable period.”

Former Minister Lee’s defense team refuted the claims, stating, “He never conspired with former President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding the emergency martial law and was not aware of it in advance.” They argued that after hearing the emergency martial law declaration plan for the first time at the presidential office on the afternoon of Dec. 3 of last year, he clearly expressed opposition in the presence of other State Council members, saying, “It would be politically burdensome and impossible to gain public consent.”

Regarding the subsequent phone call to then-National Fire Agency Commissioner Heo Seok-gon, the defense explained, “He saw documents related to the National Fire Agency at the presidential office and relayed the contents, believing that the matters recorded there could happen soon.” They added, “He instructed that if the situation described in the documents were to occur, they should prioritize safety and cooperate with the police if necessary,” noting, “Former Minister Lee was concerned about citizen safety, having experienced the Itaewon disaster.” They acknowledged that he conveyed information related to cutting off electricity and water supply to the National Fire Agency head but denied that he issued such orders to support former President Yoon’s martial law or disrupt the constitutional order.

Regarding the abuse of authority charge, the defense argued, “The Minister of the Interior and Safety only has the Korean National Police Agency and the National Fire Agency under his jurisdiction but does not issue specific instructions or commands.” They contended that since the minister lacks general job authority, the constituent elements of ‘abuse of authority’ are not satisfied.

The court decided to hold the next trial on the 24th and call four witnesses, including former Minister Lee’s driver secretary. They plan to verify his whereabouts on the day of the emergency martial law declaration and examine the contents of his instructions to the National Fire Agency head and others.