Ex-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo accused of failing to carry a lawful cupboard assembly following martial regulation declaration.
Revealed On 21 Jan 2026
A South Korean courtroom has sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in jail after discovering him responsible on revolt costs associated to disgraced ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial regulation.
Han was discovered responsible on Wednesday of abetting Yoon’s temporary imposition of martial regulation and for failing to carry a lawful cupboard assembly, as required by South Korean regulation, after the decree to mobilise the navy was ordered by the then-president in December 2024.
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Han”disregarded his responsibility and accountability as prime minister till the very finish”, stated Choose Lee Jin-gwan, of the Seoul Central District Courtroom.
“Because of the defendant’s actions, South Korea was at risk of returning to the darkish previous when the essential rights and liberal democratic order of the folks have been violated, doubtlessly stopping them from escaping from the quagmire of dictatorship for a very long time,” the choose stated.
The courtroom ordered Han to be detained after sentencing, citing issues in regards to the attainable destruction of proof.
Han, 76, is the primary member of Yoon’s cupboard to be discovered responsible and sentenced to jail in relation to the martial regulation declaration.
The previous prime minister denied the costs in opposition to him, saying he had no prior data of Yoon’s plan to impose navy rule.
Final week, a courtroom sentenced Yoon to 5 years in jail after discovering him responsible on costs linked to the imposition of martial regulation, together with obstructing the work of authorities, fabricating official paperwork and failing to adjust to authorized processes.
Individually, Yoon additionally faces extra critical costs of main an revolt by the martial regulation decree. A particular prosecutor has demanded the death penalty for Yoon, with a verdict within the case anticipated subsequent month.
Al Jazeera’s Jack Barton, reporting from Seoul, stated Wednesday’s verdict was essential as Han was the primary official to face a verdict on costs straight associated to the martial regulation decree, and the courtroom’s ruling will doubtless have a bearing on Yoon’s forthcoming verdict for revolt.
“That is the primary verdict and 23 years he has obtained. That’s increased than the 15 [years] the prosecution was asking for,” Barton stated.
“It definitely doesn’t bode properly for former President Yoon when his remaining verdict comes up – it’s anticipated on February 19,” he stated.
