[News Today] Han sentenced to 15 years on appeal

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Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in an appeals trial over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3 martial law declaration. The appellate court upheld the insurrection charge against him. This marks the first ruling by the Seoul High Court's insurrection division to recognize the December 3 martial law declaration as an act of insurrection.

[REPORT]

In the first trial in January, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years behind bars and was taken into custody at court.

In an appeals trial, the Seoul High Court's insurrection division sentenced him to 15 years.

The court ruled that Han convened a Cabinet meeting and aided the perfunctory procedures all the while knowing that martial law was unconstitutional and illegitimate.

Lee Seung-cheol / Presiding judge, Seoul High Court

The defendant resolved to take part in insurrection and proposed to Yoon a Cabinet review even just as a formality.

It also recognized that he consulted with then-Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to exert control over media outlets critical of the administration.

Lee Seung-cheol / Presiding judge, Seoul High Court

He discussed implementation of the order to cut power and water supply.

Han is also convicted of signing the cover of a fake martial law proclamation together with former President Yoon Suk Yeol and others and then discarding it.

He's also guilty of perjury for his testimony in the Constitutional Court saying he never received a martial law document.

The ruling is the first appeals verdict under the view that the December 2024 martial law constituted an insurrection.

Lee Seung-cheol / Presiding judge, Seoul High Court

It’s a serious crime of directly disrupting fundamental democratic order that can’t be compared to any other crime.

As the same court also oversees former President Yoon's trial regarding the charge of leading an insurrection, the insurrection charge is also expected to stick.

Meanwhile the special counsel team investigating the case called it a meaningful verdict and said it will review whether to appeal.