South Korean court cuts former prime minister Han Duck-soo’s jail term to 15 years
Ex-PM Han's sentence slashed by 8 years as appeals court cites his 50-year career.
A South Korean appeals court on Thursday reduced the prison sentence of former prime minister Han Duck-soo by eight years, from 23 to 15 years, for his involvement in ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's December 2024 martial law declaration. Yoon's decree briefly suspended civilian rule, plunging the country into chaos for about six hours before opposition lawmakers voted to overturn it. A lower court had handed down the harsher 23-year sentence in January.
The Seoul appellate court upheld most of Han's convictions but lessened the penalty, with the presiding judge stating, 'We sentence the defendant to 15 years in prison.' The court took into account Han's 'more than 50 years as a public official prior to the martial law declaration' as a mitigating factor. This ruling follows Yoon's own life sentence for insurrection earlier this year. The reduction reflects the complex legal and political aftermath of the unprecedented martial law event.
- Han Duck-soo's sentence reduced from 23 to 15 years by Seoul appeals court.
- Convictions stemmed from his role in ex-President Yoon's 2024 martial law declaration that lasted six hours.
- Court cited Han's 50+ years of public service as key factor in leniency.
Why It Matters
The ruling shapes South Korea's legal accountability for the 2024 martial law crisis and its political fallout.