A South Korean court sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for aiding and abetting a declaration of martial law that briefly suspended civilian rule.
The defendant “disregarded his duty and responsibility as prime minister until the very end”, said Judge Lee Jin-gwan of the Seoul Central District Court.
“We sentence the defendant to 23 years in prison.”
The sentence is eight years longer than prosecutors’ demand.
The 76-year-old career technocrat was ordered to report to prison immediately after the ruling.
Judge Lee said the martial law decree, declared by Han’s boss Yoon Suk-yeol in December 2024, was intended with the “aim of subverting the constitutional order” and amounted to insurrection.
Yoon’s stunning imposition of martial law saw armed troops deployed to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission before it was vetoed by the opposition-led parliament.
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