Former South Korean PM Han Duck-soo Sentenced to 23 Years for Aiding Rebellion

Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison on charges of aiding and abetting the rebellion led by impeached former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The Seoul Central District Court found Han guilty of involvement in key acts related to Yoon’s declaration of martial law, ruling that the move amounted to an insurrection aimed at overturning the constitutional order. The court stated that Han played a significant role in encouraging and facilitating the rebellion.

An independent council led by Cho Yoon-suk, which is investigating Yoon’s rebellion and related charges, had sought a 15-year prison sentence for Han. However, the court handed down a harsher punishment.

The ruling confirmed that Yoon’s declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024, constituted a rebellion against the constitutional system. The court noted that Han convened an illegal cabinet meeting, thereby providing procedural cover and a semblance of legitimacy to the unlawful martial law.

The court further stated that had Han properly fulfilled his duties as prime minister, the rebellion could have been prevented. Instead, he was found to have concealed documents related to martial law, forged records to make the process appear lawful, and destroyed evidence to protect himself.

Following the verdict, the court ordered Han to be taken into custody immediately, citing the risk of evidence tampering.
The first-phase verdict in the rebellion case against former President Yoon is scheduled for February 19.

— NAN, with support from Xinhua