SEOUL (Web Desk) – In a dramatic ruling that sent shockwaves through South Korea’s political landscape, a Seoul court on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison over his involvement in the short-lived martial law imposed in December 2024, branding the move an act of rebellion against the nation’s constitution.
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The Seoul Central District Court said the decree issued by then-president Yoon Suk Yeol amounted to a “self-coup,” aimed at undermining the democratic system by deploying troops and police to the National Assembly and election offices. Judges ruled that the actions crossed a red line and posed a serious threat to the country’s stability.
Han, 76, became the first senior official from Yoon’s administration to be convicted on rebellion charges, a decision widely seen as a bellwether for the fate of other former leaders now facing trial, including Yoon himself.
The court found that Han played a key role by attempting to give procedural cover to the martial law order through a Cabinet Council meeting. He was also convicted of falsifying and destroying the proclamation and lying under oath.
In a stern warning about the dangers of backsliding into authoritarianism, the presiding judge said the country had come close to returning to a “dark chapter” where basic rights and democratic freedoms could have been trampled.
Han, who briefly served as acting president during the political turmoil following Yoon’s impeachment, has denied the charges and is expected to appeal. Prosecutors had earlier sought a 15-year sentence, making the 23-year term a surprise that underscored the gravity of the court’s findings.
The ruling comes as former president Yoon, already behind bars, awaits a key court decision next month on his own rebellion case. Investigators have accused him of masterminding the martial law plan, while Yoon insists he acted to rally public support against a hostile opposition.
The failed decree was ultimately overturned after lawmakers pushed through a vote at the National Assembly amid public protests and a heavy security presence. Although no major violence broke out, the episode rattled South Korea’s political system, shook investor confidence, and drew global attention to the resilience — and fragility — of its democracy.
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