A South Korean court sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in jail on Wednesday for charges including engaging in a key action of insurrection concerning ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in December 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court found Han guilty because he was considered instrumental in setting up the outward appearance of a cabinet meeting that facilitated the martial law declaration, a judge said, calling it a "top-down insurrection".
"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 as a member of the December 3 insurrection," the judge said.
"As a result of the defendant's actions, 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 from the quagmire of dictatorship for a long time," the judge added.
The court also convicted him of related charges including perjury and creating a false official document.
Han had denied wrongdoing for all charges except partial perjury.
At 76, he is the first former cabinet minister to face a lower court ruling on criminal charges directly linked to martial law.
He was detained immediately after the verdict.
The decision can be appealed, and the judge said he expected the case to move through the appeals process and potentially reach the Supreme Court.
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