Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo Sentenced to 23 Years Over 2024 Martial Law

Seoul: A South Korean court ruled on Wednesday that the 2024 imposition of martial law by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol constituted an act of rebellion as it sentenced his prime minister to 23 years in prison for his involvement.

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the first Yoon administration official convicted of rebellion charges in relation to Yoon's martial law imposition in December 2024. The verdict is expected to set the stage for upcoming rulings involving Yoon and his other associates, who also face rebellion charges.

Han, as the Prime Minister of South Korea, served as one of the three caretaker leaders during moments of the martial law crisis that led to Yoon's impeachment and eventually his removal from office.

According to South Korean law, rebellion is one of the gravest criminal charges. The independent counsel recently demanded the death penalty for Former President Yoon, who was charged with masterminding a rebellion. The Seoul Central District Court is to rule on Yoon's rebellion charges on February 19.

The court sentenced Han for playing a key role in Yoon's rebellion by trying to give procedural legitimacy to his martial law decree by getting it passed through a Cabinet Council meeting. The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation, destroying it and lying under oath.

Han, who could appeal Wednesday's ruling, has steadfastly maintained that he had told Yoon that he opposed his martial law plan. He has denied most of the other charges.

The court said Han neglected his responsibilities as prime minister to protect the constitution, choosing instead to take part in Yoon's rebellion.

Yoon, who has already been in jail for months, faces eight criminal trials, including his rebellion case over the martial law decree and other allegations. Last Friday, Yoon received a five-year prison term at the Seoul court for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and denying some Cabinet members their rights to deliberate on his martial law decree.

Meanwhile, Yoon, a conservative, has steadfastly denied the charges of rebellion, saying he only aimed to draw public support for his fight against the Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda. Speaking at Friday's court session, Yoon denounced the investigations of his charges as "frenzied," arguing that they involved "manipulation" and "distortion."

Besides Han, Yoon's defence, safety and justice ministers, spy and police chiefs, as well as some of his top military commanders, have been arrested and indicted on rebellion charges.