Lead
South Korea's Seoul High Court on Thursday reduced the prison sentence of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo from 23 years to 15 years, finding him guilty of playing a key role in the insurrection linked to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law in December 2024. The ruling, delivered in a live broadcast, upheld most of Han's convictions but adjusted the penalty, citing his long public service record and what the court described as a less active role in the insurrection compared to other participants.
Coverage Comparison
The sentence reduction was reported consistently across international and domestic outlets, including Al Jazeera, the South China Morning Post, The Hindu, and Yonhap News Agency. All sources noted the eight-year reduction from the original 23-year term imposed in January. The appeals court's decision to maintain most of Han's convictions while adjusting the sentence was highlighted by The Hindu and Yonhap. The court's reasoning, which took into account Han's "more than 50 years as a public official prior to the martial law declaration," was quoted by Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post.
Key Claims
All sources confirmed that the Seoul High Court reduced Han's sentence from 23 to 15 years, a ruling announced on May 7, 2026. Han was convicted of aiding and abetting Yoon's martial law declaration, which briefly suspended civilian government and lasted about six hours before opposition lawmakers voted to overturn it. The court upheld charges including attempting to legitimize the decree through a Cabinet meeting, discussing plans to cut power and water to critical media outlets, falsifying the martial law proclamation, and lying under oath during Yoon's impeachment trial. However, the court acquitted Han of some charges, including perjury related to his testimony about a document exchange between former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, and of failing to stop the power and water cutoff order.
Yoon Suk Yeol was separately sentenced to life in prison for rebellion in February, as reported by The Hindu and other outlets. Han, who has been under arrest since January, saw his lawyers announce plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, a detail noted by Yonhap. The special counsel had requested the court uphold the 23-year sentence, while Han maintained his innocence, claiming he had tried to dissuade Yoon from declaring martial law.
Perspectives
Court's Perspective: The Seoul High Court emphasized the gravity of Han's crimes, stating he "abandoned the grave responsibilities arising from the authority and position entrusted to him and instead sided with those participating in the acts of insurrection." However, it also noted that "the records make it difficult to find evidence showing that the defendant participated more actively in the insurrection, such as by conspiring in advance or systematically leading the operation," which contributed to the reduced sentence.
Defense's Perspective: Han Duck-soo has consistently denied the charges, asserting he dissuaded Yoon from declaring martial law and was not involved in any insurrection. His lawyers have announced they will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, indicating they believe the conviction itself, not just the sentence, is unjust.
Legal Analysts' Perspective: Criminal law expert Park SungBae told The Hindu that both the district and appeals courts treated Han's charges as very grave. He suggested the 15-year term aligns with sentences given to other officials involved in the martial law case, such as Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who received seven years. Park also noted that the original 23-year sentence was higher than the special prosecutor's request for 15 years, but still within the normal range for such crimes.