South Korea Court Hands Former PM Han 23-Year Prison Term

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Seoul: A court in South Korea has handed former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo a 23-year prison sentence for his role in actions linked to the contentious martial law declaration enacted in December 2024, marking one of the most significant judicial rulings in the country’s recent political crisis.

 The Seoul Central District Court found Han, 76, guilty of engaging in key acts that supported the imposition of martial law by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, a move prosecutors and judges characterized as an attempt to undermine the constitutional order. The court said Han played a role in convening what it deemed to be a procedurally flawed cabinet meeting that helped provide a cloak of legitimacy for the short-lived decree.

 Judge Lee Jin-gwan said in delivering the verdict that Han failed to uphold his duties as a senior state official and that his conduct brought the nation to the brink of a constitutional crisis. The court also convicted him on related counts, including perjury and creating false official documents.

 The sentence significantly exceeds the 15 years requested by prosecutors, reflecting the court’s view of the seriousness of the offenses. Han was taken into custody immediately after the ruling, and his legal team said it intends to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

 This landmark conviction follows a separate five-year prison term handed to former President Yoon earlier this week in connection with other aspects of the martial law episode. Yoon remains subject to additional charges, including a pending insurrection case for which prosecutors have sought the death penalty.

 Han, a veteran technocrat who held high office under multiple administrations, briefly served as acting president after Yoon’s impeachment before stepping down to pursue political ambitions. He has denied most of the charges, maintaining that he never actively supported the illegal decree.

 The ruling is seen as a pivotal moment in South Korea’s ongoing effort to hold senior officials accountable for actions tied to the fragile episode in the nation’s democratic history, and it may influence other high-profile legal battles tied to the broader martial law saga.