Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Sentenced to 23 Years for Role in Martial Law Conspiracy

A South Korean court has imposed a 23-year prison sentence on former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo following his involvement in an insurrection related to the martial law declaration made by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court determined that Han, aged 76, significantly contributed to the declaration by orchestrating a façade of a legitimate cabinet meeting, which the court described as part of an organized "top-down insurrection." The judges indicated that Han participated in discussions aimed at disrupting the operations of key governmental institutions, which included parliament.

While delivering the verdict, the judges emphasized that Han neglected his responsibilities as prime minister, opting instead to engage in activities that jeopardized South Korea’s democratic system and posed a threat of reverting to authoritarian governance. He was convicted of multiple charges, including leading acts of insurrection, as well as perjury and fabricating an official document.

Han expressed his acceptance of the court's ruling, although his legal representatives confirmed that they would be appealing to the Supreme Court. Following the verdict, he was taken into custody without delay. The sentence imposed was more severe than the 15 years proposed by the prosecutors, marking a rare occurrence in South Korean judicial history.

This ruling represents the first conviction of a former cabinet official directly connected to the martial law issue and may set a precedent for ongoing trials. Han had consistently denied most of the allegations against him, acknowledging only to the perjury charge, and claimed that he did not endorse the martial law declaration despite not intervening to prevent it.

Han, who is an experienced technocrat with a history of serving under five presidents, briefly assumed the role of acting president following the impeachment of Yoon but faced impeachment himself shortly thereafter. Even though the Constitutional Court later reinstated him, Han chose to resign to contest in a snap presidential election, which he later withdrew from.

Former President Yoon, similarly embroiled in numerous legal troubles, received a five-year prison sentence last week on related charges and has lodged an appeal. He is expected to face another important ruling next month regarding the grave allegation of orchestrating an insurrection, for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.