A South Korean court has sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for his role in an alleged insurrection linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.
In a landmark ruling, the Seoul Central District Court found that Han, 76, played a pivotal role in enabling the declaration by orchestrating what judges described as a façade of a legitimate cabinet meeting.
The court ruled that his actions formed part of a “top-down insurrection” aimed at undermining South Korea’s constitutional order. Judges said Han also took part in discussions to paralyze key state institutions, including the National Assembly.
Delivering the verdict, the court said Han had gravely failed in his duties as prime minister, choosing to cooperate in actions that threatened the foundations of South Korea’s democracy and risked plunging the nation back into authoritarian rule.
He was convicted of leading acts of insurrection, as well as perjury and the fabrication of official documents.
Although Han said he would accept the court’s decision, his legal team confirmed that an appeal would be filed with the Supreme Court. He was immediately taken into custody following the judgment. Notably, the sentence exceeded the 15-year prison term sought by prosecutors—an uncommon step in South Korean judicial practice.
The ruling marks the first conviction of a former cabinet member directly connected to the martial law case and is widely seen as a bellwether for a series of high-profile trials still underway. Throughout the proceedings, Han denied most of the charges, admitting only to perjury.
He maintained that he never supported the declaration of martial law, though he conceded that he failed to prevent it.
A seasoned technocrat who served under five South Korean presidents, Han briefly assumed the role of acting president after Yoon was impeached.
He was later impeached himself, though the Constitutional Court reinstated him. Han subsequently resigned to contest a snap presidential election, a campaign he later abandoned.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces multiple criminal cases stemming from the same episode, was sentenced last week to five years in prison and has filed an appeal.
He is scheduled to face a further ruling next month on the most serious charge—allegedly masterminding an insurrection—for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
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