The Seoul Central District Court has determined that Lee Sang-min, the former Minister of the Interior and Safety, ordered the chief of the fire department to cut off the power and water supplies to certain media outlets during a state of emergency. The court's ruling specifically states that Lee's instruction to Heo Seok-gon, who was the head of the fire department at the time, cannot be seen merely as a request for collaboration on duties. It highlights a direct command related to the operations of the fire department under his authority as a minister.

During the emergency period, the allegations against Lee included not only the power and water cut orders issued to specific media outlets such as Hankyoreh but also charges of abuse of power, insurrection-related misconduct, and perjury. This situation escalated as Lee previously testified in a trial related to the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, claiming he had received no such directive to cut media services, which the court now contradicts.

The implications of this ruling touch on significant issues regarding press freedom and governmental overreach in South Korea. If upheld, the court's findings could set a precedent for accountability concerning the abuse of power by government officials, especially concerning how they interact with media outlets during emergencies. This case has become a focal point of public discourse on democratic principles and civil rights in the region.