Seoul’s justice system delivered a thunderbolt on Wednesday, handing former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo a 23-year prison term for his involvement in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid, ruled as outright rebellion. This follows Yoon’s own five-year conviction, marking a decisive crackdown on the December 2024 power grab.
According to court documents, Han actively facilitated the martial law announcement during a cabinet session he convened. Far from resisting, he tacitly supported measures like silencing opposition media by severing utilities. Special prosecutor Cho Yoon-sook had pushed for 15 years, but the judges deemed Han’s betrayal of office far graver, including perjury and post-decree cover-ups.
The live-broadcast trial captivated the nation as Judge Lee Jin-kwan remanded Han, citing risks of destroying evidence. He lambasted Han for shirking his oath: ‘A prime minister must defend the constitution at all costs. Instead, he joined the insurrection, convinced of its victory.’
Details emerged of Han signing an altered decree after lawmakers revoked martial law, then feigning rejection while misleading the constitutional court. As the first Yoon cabinet official jailed over this, Han insists he was blindsided by the plot’s extent.
With Yoon’s death penalty trial wrapping up last week—verdict due February 19—Han’s sentence may bolster the case against him. This episode reveals deep fissures in South Korean politics, where a momentary authoritarian lurch met swift democratic pushback. The courts’ resolve ensures accountability, deterring future overreaches and reaffirming rule of law.