Ex‑Prime Minister Han Duck‑soo Sentenced to 23 Years for Martial‑Law Insurrection
Updated (4 articles)
Han Duck‑soo Receives 23‑Year Prison Term On Jan. 21 2026 the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former prime minister Han Duck‑soo to 23 years in prison for abetting former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s martial‑law declaration [1][2][3][4]. The court found him guilty of abetting the ringleader, playing a key role in the insurrection, and perjury, imposing a term far above the prosecutors’ 15‑year request. Han became the first former prime minister and the first cabinet‑level official convicted in connection with the decree, and he was immediately remanded to the Seoul Detention Center.
Court Declares December 3 2024 Martial Law an Insurrection The ruling formally classified the Dec. 3 2024 martial‑law proclamation as an insurrection that breached the Constitution [1][2][3][4]. Judges described the six‑hour episode as a self‑coup that was halted by public resistance in the National Assembly. By labeling the event an insurrection, the judgment sets a legal precedent for the broader case against Yoon Suk‑yeol.
Han’s Actions Included Proposing Cabinet Meeting and Encouraging Media Cutoffs The court determined that Han suggested convening a Cabinet session before the decree and did not voice opposition during that meeting [1][2][3][4]. He allegedly urged Interior Minister Lee Sang‑min to cut power and water to media outlets critical of the administration, signed a revised proclamation after the decree was lifted to bolster its legitimacy, and later lied under oath at the Constitutional Court. Han maintains he had no prior knowledge of the martial‑law plans and did not support them.
Custody Ordered to Prevent Evidence Tampering and Yoon Trial Looms Judge Lee Jin‑gwan ordered Han’s detention, citing a risk that he might destroy or mishandle evidence [1][3]. Han was transferred to the Uiwang detention center, where Yoon Suk‑yeol remains incarcerated since July 2025. The verdict is expected to influence Yoon’s upcoming trial, scheduled for Feb. 19 2026, in which prosecutors have sought the death penalty.
Sources
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Yonhap: Ex‑PM Han Duck‑soo sentenced to 23 years for insurrection tied to martial law decree – Highlights the 23‑year sentence, judge’s “self‑coup” language, Han’s first‑ever former‑PM conviction, and potential impact on Yoon’s trial .
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Yonhap: Ex‑PM Han Duck‑soo sentenced to 23 years – Emphasizes the court’s link of the martial‑law decree to insurrection, the 23‑year term exceeding the 15‑year request, and Han’s role in proposing the pre‑decree Cabinet meeting .
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Yonhap: Ex‑PM Han Duck‑soo gets 23‑year insurrection sentence – Details custody due to evidence‑destruction concerns, Han’s encouragement of media cutoffs, and the upcoming Feb. 19 verdict for Yoon .
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Yonhap: Ex‑PM Han Duck‑soo receives 23‑year sentence – Notes Han’s attendance at the Jan. 21 sentencing hearing and reiterates the court’s finding that the Dec. 3, 2024 decree constituted an insurrection .
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Timeline
Dec 3, 2024 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law, prompting the interior minister to cut power and water to critical media outlets; the Seoul Central District Court later classifies the six‑hour episode as an “insurrection” and a self‑coup[1].
Dec 3, 2024 – The National Assembly votes within six hours to lift the decree, ending the brief martial law period and averting further constitutional breach[1].
July 2025 – Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed in detention at the Seoul Detention Center, where he remains pending his trial for insurrection[1].
Jan 21, 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court sentences former Prime Minister Han Duck‑soo to 23 years in prison, stating that “the defendant had a constitutional duty to defend the Constitution, which he neglected,” and confirming his role in urging the interior minister to cut utilities to dissenting media[1].
Jan 21, 2026 – Judge Lee Jin‑gwan orders Han’s continued custody, transferring him to the Seoul Detention Center over fears he might destroy evidence; Han replies, “I had no prior knowledge beyond the declaration and did not support or help it”[1].
Jan 21, 2026 – The ruling marks the first conviction of a former prime minister in the Yoon‑era martial law case and is seen as potentially shaping the outcome of Yoon’s trial, where prosecutors have demanded the death penalty[1].
Feb 19, 2026 – A verdict is scheduled in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s trial on insurrection and related charges, concluding a legal saga that began with the Dec 3, 2024 decree[1].