SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – A South Korean appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was convicted of rebellion for his involvement in then-President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial imposition of martial law in December 2024. Initially sentenced to 23 years in prison by a Seoul court in January, Han's sentence has been cut to 15 years following a ruling by the Seoul High Court.
Han Duck-soo, an appointee of President Yoon, was convicted in relation to his efforts to legitimize Yoon's illegal decree. The charges included attempts to have the martial law endorsement recognized at a Cabinet meeting and discussions on methods to cut off critical media agencies' access to water and electricity. The court also upheld additional convictions for falsifying the martial law proclamation, destroying it, and committing perjury.
The Seoul High Court emphasized the severity of Han's actions, declaring that his “criminal liabilities are very grave” due to his failure to uphold the responsibilities inherent to his position as the second-highest official in the Yoon administration, which played a significant role in the rebellion.
Legal experts, including criminal law attorney Park SungBae, observed that both the district court and the appeals court regarded Han's actions as serious offenses. However, considering the sentences handed down to others involved in Yoon's martial law declaration—such as former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who received a seven-year prison term—the 15-year sentence appears to be a reasonable adjustment. During trial proceedings at the Seoul Central District Court, a special prosecutor had requested a 15-year sentence for Han, and while the 23-year sentence was unexpectedly harsh, it still fell within a typical range for offenses of such magnitude.
Han and the prosecution have seven days to decide whether to appeal Thursday's ruling to the Supreme Court, South Korea's highest judicial authority. At the age of 76, Han Duck-soo is recognized as a career bureaucrat who has served as prime minister twice over his four-decade-long public service career. His tenures include a period under the liberal administration of President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008, as well as his more recent role under President Yoon. After Yoon's suspension due to the martial law initiative, Han was one of three individuals appointed as caretaker leaders until the political situation stabilized.
President Yoon Suk Yeol ultimately faced impeachment by the National Assembly and was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April of the previous year. His political rival, Lee Jae Myung, who represents a liberal political stance, subsequently won a snap election to succeed Yoon, marking a significant shift in South Korea's political landscape.
