On September 19, a South Korean court sentenced former Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won to 18 years in prison for involvement in a conspiracy to declare emergency martial law. Alongside him, former police chiefs Jo Ji-ho and Kim Bong-sik received prison sentences of 12 and 10 years, respectively, highlighting the serious ramifications of their actions during the incident. Additionally, former National Assembly security chief Mok Hyun-tae was sentenced to three years, while two other military officials were found not guilty due to lack of evidence against them.

The court's ruling emphasized that Noh was aware of the potential for prolonged unrest following the declaration of martial law, and he actively participated in discussions about countermeasures when the proposal to lift the law was unexpectedly advanced. The judges noted that Noh shared the intent to disrupt national governance through violent measures, thus marking him as an instrumental figure in this unprecedented act against democracy in South Korea.

Similarly, the court assessed the involvement of Jo and Kim, noting that while they did not initially architect the plan, their actions indicated a shared understanding of the intention to paralyze the National Assembly's function. This case has significant implications for South Korea's political integrity and the accountability of those in power, raising vital questions about the future of civil liberties and governance in the nation.