Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo faces over two decades behind bars after a Seoul court convicted him Wednesday of rebellion tied to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law fiasco. The 23-year sentence exceeds prosecutors’ 15-year demand and builds on Yoon’s prior five-year penalty, classifying the December 3, 2024, decree as insurrection.
Han’s complicity shone through in orchestrating a pre-decree cabinet meeting, staying silent amid the chaos, and nudging officials to implement draconian steps against media foes. Post-revocation—after just six hours via assembly vote—he endorsed a doctored version of the order, publicly disavowed it, and perjured himself before constitutional judges.
In a packed, televised courtroom, Judge Lee Jin-kwan detained Han on the spot: ‘Your role demanded safeguarding democracy, yet you embraced rebellion, betting on its triumph.’ Special counsel evidence painted Han as a willing enabler, ignoring his denials of prior knowledge.
This first conviction of a Yoon aide in the cabinet signals escalating judicial scrutiny. Yoon’s own high-stakes trial ended recently, with execution demanded; decision looms February 19. South Korea’s response to the crisis highlights its robust institutions: a brief martial law attempt crumbled under legislative fire, now pursued relentlessly by courts.
The saga grips the nation, exposing elite accountability in a democracy forged from past dictatorships. Han’s downfall warns against constitutional sabotage, as justice prevails in Seoul’s halls.