A South Korean court on Tuesday sentenced former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo to 23 years in prison on charges including inciting sedition, in connection with the declaration of a state of emergency in December 2024 by former President Yun Suk-yeol.
Han, 76, is the first former cabinet member to be convicted of criminal charges directly related to the imposition of the state of emergency. Legal experts see his conviction as a warning for possible future trials of other government figures.
The Seoul Central District Court found Han guilty of facilitating the declaration of a state of emergency, an act the judge described as “rebellion from above.” According to the court, Han had also discussed plans to close key institutions, including parliament. The sentence exceeded the request of prosecutors, who in November had requested a sentence of 15 years. Han was taken into custody immediately after the verdict was announced and has the option of appealing to the Supreme Court. His lawyer confirmed that he will pursue this legal route.
