Seoul Court Sentences Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 Years in Prison Over Martial Law Case
en01.web.id – Seoul.
The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday sentenced former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison after finding him guilty in connection with the illegal declaration of martial law in December 2024. The court ruled that Han committed insurrection and actions undermining the constitutional order, marking one of the most severe criminal verdicts ever handed down to a former top government official in South Korea.
Presiding Judge Kim Jae-hyun, who led the three-judge panel, said Han had knowingly abused his constitutional authority as prime minister to facilitate an unlawful seizure of state power. “The defendant’s actions gravely damaged democratic governance and the supremacy of the Constitution,” Judge Kim said while reading the verdict in open court.
The case stems from events on December 3, 2024, when the South Korean government abruptly declared martial law amid escalating political confrontation between the executive branch and the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The declaration authorized the deployment of military and security forces to key civilian institutions, including temporary restrictions on parliamentary activities, triggering nationwide protests and immediate legal challenges.
Prosecutors argued that Han Duck-soo, who served as prime minister at the time, played a central role in legitimizing the declaration by convening and endorsing emergency cabinet procedures despite being aware that constitutional requirements had not been met. The court accepted the prosecution’s argument that Han’s participation provided a false veneer of legality to the measure.
Chief Prosecutor Park Min-seok, head of the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office, said the case went far beyond administrative misconduct. “This was not a procedural mistake,” Park told reporters after the ruling. “The defendant used his position at the heart of government to support actions that effectively suspended constitutional rule. That constitutes insurrection under criminal law.”
Judges found that the martial law declaration led to serious disruption of democratic institutions, including threats to legislative independence and civil liberties. Although the measure was overturned within days after the National Assembly and Constitutional Court ruled it unconstitutional, the court said the intent and impact of the actions met the legal threshold for insurrection.
Court spokesperson Lee Sung-woo said the length of the sentence reflected Han’s senior status within the government. “As prime minister, the defendant bore a heightened duty to safeguard constitutional order. The violation originated from the highest levels of state authority, which the court considered an aggravating factor,” Lee said.
The verdict has drawn widespread attention domestically and internationally, reinforcing South Korea’s principle that no official is above the law. The government stated it respects the judiciary’s decision, while Han Duck-soo’s legal team said they are reviewing the ruling and considering an appeal in accordance with legal procedures.
(rd/ks/jk)