South Korea's former prime minister Han Duck-soo jailed for 23 years over martial law declaration

South Korea's former prime minister has been sentenced to 23 years in prison on charges relating to the failed martial law declaration in 2024.

Han Duck-soo was found guilty on charges including insurrection, and the court considered him instrumental in carrying out former president Yoon Suk Yeol's orders.

On 3 December 2022, the South Korean military was deployed in the streets and put in temporary charge by the president's declaration.

After just about six hours - with protesters clashing with the military and police, and politicians forcing their way into the National Assembly - parliament voted to block the order, and Yoon overturned it.

Han, 76, is the first former cabinet minister to be handed a ruling by a court on criminal charges directly related to the declaration of martial law.

In its ruling, the Seoul Central District Court found Han guilty as he had helped set up the appearance of a cabinet meeting that facilitated the declaration.

The court ruling added Han was guilty of "engaging in (the) key action of insurrection", as well as on related charges of perjury and forging an official document.

A judge described the move as a "top-down insurrection," before adding: "The defendant was a prime minister who had been indirectly given democratic legitimacy and responsibility."

"Nevertheless, the defendant chose to turn a blind eye... and participate" in the order, the judge then said.

"As a result, South Korea was in danger of returning to the dark past when the basic rights and liberal democratic order of the people were violated, potentially preventing them from escaping... dictatorship for a long time."

Wearing a suit and green tie, Han said after the ruling that he "will humbly follow the judge's decision". He was detained immediately after the ruling, which his lawyer intends to appeal against to the country's supreme court.

Han had denied wrongdoing on all charges except perjury.

He said in November that while he regretted not being able to stop Yoon from declaring martial law, he "never agreed to it or tried to help".

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After Yoon was impeached by parliament, Han became acting president, before he was also impeached.

After the constitutional court overturned this, he resigned as president and called a snap election in June, which was won by Liberal opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung.

It comes just a day after Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for mobilising the presidential ⁠security service to block authorities from executing an arrest warrant to investigate him over his imposition of martial law.

He has appealed against that ruling, but faces another on the most serious charge of "masterminding an insurrection" on 19 February.

Prosecutors have sought the death penalty in that case. South Korea has had no executions since 1997.

Yoon also faces another seven seperate trials.

(c) Sky News 2026: South Korea's former prime minister Han Duck-soo jailed for 23 years over martial law declara