A Seoul court has sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for his central role in an attempted constitutional overthrow linked to a 2024 martial law decree. The ruling represents the first legal confirmation that the events of that period constituted an act of insurrection.
Presiding Judge Lee Jin-kwan ordered Han’s immediate detention following the verdict. The court dismissed Han’s defense and found he had actively worked to legitimize an unconstitutional presidential order by orchestrating a sham cabinet meeting. Prosecutors had initially sought a 15-year term.
In a significant legal determination, the judge distinguished the case from historical military coups, describing it as a “self-coup” perpetrated by elected authorities, which presented a distinct threat to democratic institutions. The court stated that Han, as prime minister, held a constitutional duty to block the insurrection but instead chose to facilitate it.
Evidence presented during the trial proved particularly damaging. This included a recorded phone call from December 8, 2024, in which Han instructed a presidential aide to destroy a backdated martial law document, stating, “Let’s make it as if my signature never existed.” The court also reviewed security footage showing Han appearing to assent to the plan hours before its public announcement and receiving key documents.
The judicial finding noted that Han helped summon only the minimum number of ministers required for a quorum, deliberately preventing substantive discussion. He was also convicted on additional charges, including falsifying documents, destroying presidential records, and committing perjury during related impeachment proceedings.
Throughout the trial, the 76-year-old former official maintained that he privately opposed the decree and was in a state of shock, claiming, “I never supported it or tried to help it.” The court, however, found no genuine remorse, citing his continued efforts to conceal evidence and mislead investigators.
A veteran diplomat who served under multiple administrations, Han was the longest-serving prime minister under a single president in the country’s modern history. His sentencing follows a recent separate ruling that sentenced the former president to five years for obstruction of justice. The former leader’s own trial on insurrection charges is ongoing, with prosecutors having requested the death penalty. Han retains the right to appeal Wednesday’s verdict.