Ex-South Korea Prime Minister Han Duck-soo gets 23 years for martial law role

Soo-Hyang Choi, Bloomberg News on Jan 21, 2026

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Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison, a term significantly longer than prosecutors had sought, for his role in an insurrection tied to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday declared Yoon’s bid to put the country under military rule an act of insurrection, in first such ruling and calling the move a “self-coup.”

“Because of the defendant’s actions, South Korea came perilously close to regressing into a dark past in which citizens’ basic rights and the liberal democratic order were trampled,” Judge Lee Jin-kwan said during the sentencing hearing televised live.

Prosecutors had demanded a 15-year jail term for Han, but the court decided a severe punishment was needed, saying that there is no evidence that suggests the defendant is remorseful or that he has made efforts to remedy the harm inflicted on the state and the people by his actions.

Han is the first member of Yoon’s Cabinet other than the former president to be sentenced over the martial law episode, which triggered a political crisis and was swiftly reversed following public and institutional resistance.

The ruling adds to mounting legal and political pressure on Yoon, who is facing separate trials related to the shock move. Last week prosecutors sought the death penalty for Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection and a sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 19.

Yoon has denied any wrongdoing.

“The defendant ultimately turned away from his duties and responsibilities and instead chose to participate as a member of the coup thinking that the Dec. 3 insurrection might succeed,” the judge said.

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—With assistance from Seyoon Kim and Shinhye Kang.