Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has become the first official of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration to be sentenced to prison for his involvement in the declaration of martial law in 2024. Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison by a South Korean court. In handing down Han Duck-soo’s sentence, the court ruled that the declaration of martial law constituted an act of rebellion.
The verdict is expected to pave the way for the upcoming sentencing of Yoon Suk Yeol and his other associates, who also face sedition charges – one of the most serious charges in the country. Yoon Suk Yeol has so far been accused of organizing the rebellion.
The sentencing of Yoon Suk Yeol will be decided on February 19 by the Seoul Central District Court. The court also noted that the imposition of martial law by sending soldiers and police to parliament was intended to undermine constitutional order and disrupt stability.
Why was Han Duck-soo sentenced?
Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison for participating in the Martial Law of 2024. The court said that Han Duck-soo tried to give Yoon’s martial law decree procedural legitimacy by passing it in a cabinet meeting.
The court also convicted Han of falsifying the proclamation of martial law and destroying it, and lying under oath. The court stated that Han neglected his duties to protect the constitution and instead chose to participate in Yoon’s rebellion in the belief that it might succeed.
“Because of the defendant’s actions, the Republic of Korea may have returned to a dark past when the basic rights of the people and the liberal democratic order were trampled upon, and stuck in the quagmire of dictatorships for a long time,” said Judge Lee Jin-gwan, quoted by the AP.
Han Duck-soo denied the accusations. He categorically told the inquiry that he was against the declaration of martial law.
After the court’s decision, Han was immediately sent to prison. Unlike Yoon, he was not detained before sentencing.
He charges Yoon’s face
Yoon Suk Yeol spent several months in prison. He faces eight criminal charges, including his martial law mutiny case and other charges. Last Friday, Yoon received a five-year prison sentence at a Seoul court for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating a martial law declaration and denying some cabinet members their rights to discuss his martial law decree.
Yoon, a conservative, has steadfastly denied allegations of rebellion, saying his aim was only to garner public support for his fight against the main liberal opposition party, which has opposed his agenda. In a court hearing on Friday, Yoon blasted the authorities for their investigation into the uprising as “frantic”, claiming it involved “manipulation” and “distortion”.
