In a landmark ruling, South Korea’s former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in the failed martial law declaration by ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol in 2024. The verdict marks the first judicial finding that Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law constituted an insurrection.
The court found that Han had actively worked to create the appearance of a legitimate cabinet meeting to rubber-stamp Yoon’s unconstitutional decree. Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, but the judge rejected using precedents from past military coups, calling this a “self-coup” by elected powers that posed unique dangers to democracy.
The judge, Lee Jin-kwan, stated that as Prime Minister, Han had a constitutional duty to prevent the insurrection but instead “chose to join” it. The court found no genuine remorse from Han, noting that he continued to conceal evidence and lie throughout the trial.
Damning evidence included an 8 December phone call where Han instructed a presidential aide to destroy a backdated martial law document, saying, “Let’s make it as if my signature never existed.” CCTV footage also showed Han nodding as Yoon explained the martial law plan and receiving the relevant documents.
The court found Han guilty not only of his role in the insurrection, but also of creating false documents, destroying presidential records, and perjury during Yoon’s impeachment proceedings. Prosecutors had argued that Han bore unique responsibility as the only person constitutionally positioned to block the decree.
Han, a career diplomat who served five presidents, maintained throughout the trial that he privately opposed martial law and was in “psychological shock.” However, the court rejected this, noting his active participation in ensuring the cabinet meeting had the minimum quorum needed while preventing meaningful deliberation.
Unlike Yoon and other co-defendants, Han remained free throughout his trial after a judge rejected his arrest warrant in August, citing “room for legal dispute” over his culpability. The verdict comes just five days after a separate court sentenced Yoon to five years’ imprisonment for obstructing his own arrest.
Yoon’s verdict over his insurrection trial is scheduled for 19 February, with prosecutors demanding the death penalty.
