South Korea’s former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his involvement in an insurrection by supporting former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court issued the ruling, confirming that the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, constituted an insurrection, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
The court’s decision exceeded the 15 years requested by special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team. Han was charged with aiding the ringleader of an insurrection, playing a significant role in the insurrection, and committing perjury. Judge Lee Jin-gwan, the presiding judge, ordered Han’s detention due to concerns about potential evidence tampering.
According to the court, Han participated in the insurrection by suggesting that Yoon hold a Cabinet meeting before announcing the decree. He did not oppose the declaration during the meeting and allegedly encouraged the Interior Minister to carry out orders to disconnect power and water to critical media outlets. The judge emphasized that Han, as a former prime minister, had a duty to uphold the Constitution and laws, which he neglected by participating in the insurrection.
Han, the first member of Yoon’s Cabinet to be convicted in connection with the martial law decree, was also found guilty of falsifying a revised proclamation after the decree was lifted and providing false testimony at the Constitutional Court. Despite denying the allegations and claiming ignorance of the martial law plans, Han’s sentencing is likely to impact Yoon’s ongoing trial on similar charges.
