South Korea’s former prime minister Han Duck-soo has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in an insurrection linked to the brief imposition of martial law by ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol in late 2024, the nation’s Yonhap News Agency writes.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, and the actions that followed amounted to an insurrection, marking the first judicial confirmation of that assessment. The sentence exceeded the 15 years sought by prosecutors, who had accused Han of aiding the ringleader of an insurrection, playing a central role in its execution and committing perjury.

The presiding judge ordered Han’s immediate detention, citing the risk that he could interfere with evidence.

In its ruling, the court found that Han had actively participated by proposing that Yoon convene a cabinet meeting ahead of the decree. He failed to oppose the measure during that meeting and was deemed to have encouraged senior officials, including the then interior minister, to carry out orders aimed at cutting power and water supplies to media outlets critical of the administration.

The court concluded that Han, as prime minister, bore a constitutional duty to uphold democratic order and the rule of law, but instead neglected that responsibility and aligned himself with the attempt to impose martial law, believing it might succeed.

Han is the first member of Yoon’s cabinet to receive a prison sentence in connection with the episode. The martial law order was lifted after six hours, following a vote by the National Assembly.