Seoul: A South Korean court on Tuesday sentenced former prime minister Han Duck soo to 23 years in prison, marking one of the most serious convictions ever handed down to a senior political leader in the country.
The Seoul Central District Court found Han guilty of carrying out a key action of insurrection linked to the declaration of martial law in December 2024. The court ruled that his actions undermined constitutional order and damaged democratic governance.
Judges said Han played a crucial role in creating the appearance of a lawful cabinet process for the martial law declaration, even though legal requirements were not properly followed. The court described the episode as a top level abuse of power that shook public trust in state institutions.
Han, who is 76, also faced convictions for related offences including perjury and the preparation of false official documents. He was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was delivered.
During the trial, Han denied that he had supported or planned the martial law move, arguing that he did not agree with the decision and was not its driving force. However, the court said the evidence showed he had enabled the process at a critical moment.
The case is part of a wider legal reckoning following the brief declaration of martial law by the then president in late 2024, which triggered mass protests, political turmoil and a series of high profile trials. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol has already received a prison sentence in a related case, with further verdicts expected this year.
Han’s lawyers said they plan to appeal the ruling. Until the appeal process is completed, the sentence remains a first instance judgment.
The verdict has drawn strong public attention in South Korea, where many see the case as a defining test of accountability for leaders accused of threatening the country’s democratic system.