Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

SOUTH KOREA – The former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was on Wednesday sentenced to 23 years in prison, for his role in ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol‘s failed martial law attempt.

The Seoul Central District Court said the Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration constituted an insurrection, according to Yonhap News, marking the first judicial decisions to formally define the episode as such.

Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan said Han had a constitutional duty, as prime minister, to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law but failed to do so.

“The defendant had a duty as a prime minister indirectly given democratic legitimacy and the responsibility for it to follow the Constitution and laws and make every effort to realize and defend the Constitution,” Lee said during the sentencing hearing. “Even so, he neglected this duty and responsibility until the end, thinking the Dec. 3 insurrection might succeed, and chose to take part as a member.”

The court handed down a heavier sentence than prosecutors had sought.

The special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk had charged Han with abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, playing a key role in the attempt and committing perjury.

Han, 76, served as prime minister under Yoon, who was ousted from office last year after parliamentarians rushed to parliament and voted down the martial law declaration.

The ruling marks the first time a member of Yoon’s Cabinet has been convicted over the failed attempt, which was thwarted when legislators convened an emergency session and moved to block the measure.

Yoon was sentenced last week to five years in prison on charges that he obstructed investigators’ attempts to detail him last year. A special prosecutor investigating the martial law case has also sought the death penalty for Yoon on insurrection charges. A court is scheduled to rule on that case Feb. 19.

Judge Lee described Yoon’s actions as a “self-coup,” underscoring the gravity of the case.

Yoon’s legal team on Wednesday denied perjury charges linked to a Cabinet meeting held before the martial law declaration, rejecting complaining that false statements were made during the proceedings.