Lee Sang-min, the former Minister of the Interior and Safety, is scheduled to receive a verdict in his first trial on December 12, concerning charges of serious misconduct related to insurrection and abuse of authority. This marks the second judicial decision against a member of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration charged with insurrection, following the 23-year prison sentence given to former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo. Earlier, the special prosecutor's team called for a 15-year prison term for Lee in connection with the case.

The Seoul Central District Court is set to livestream the verdict at 2 PM today, and the central issue will revolve around whether Lee issued instructions to media outlets during the state of emergency. Although no tangible documents have been found to support claims that Lee received directives from President Yoon, he has consistently denied receiving any such orders. However, a former head of the National Fire Agency testified last November that Lee had directed media outlets during the emergency, and CCTV footage captured moments before the declaration of the state of emergency showing Lee and Han reviewing related documents together.

The implications of this trial extend beyond Lee himself, as it reflects the ongoing tension and scrutiny surrounding the Yoon administration. With the court's decision potentially setting a precedent for future cases involving governmental misconduct, observers are closely watching the outcome to assess the administration's accountability in handling power during critical times.