A South Korean court in Seoul on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison after it ruled that then President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law in December 2024 constituted an act of rebellion and found Han guilty for his involvement.
The court identified Han as the first official from the Yoon administration convicted on rebellion charges in connection with the martial law declaration.
Judges examined the December 2024 martial law order and determined that the presidential decree and its implementation met the legal criteria for rebellion under South Korean law.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Han, who Yoon appointed as prime minister, participated in decision-making and execution processes related to the martial law imposition.
Defense attorneys for Han challenged the characterization of the martial law order as rebellion and disputed the extent of his authority over military and security actions.
The court rejected those arguments and held Han criminally responsible for aiding the martial law measures that it concluded unlawfully expanded military control over state institutions.
Court officials announced that Han retains the right to appeal the conviction and sentence to higher courts under South Korean criminal procedure.
Officials from the prosecution service said they would continue to pursue all pending rebellion cases arising from the martial law incident according to established legal procedures.
