Former South Korean Prime Minister Sentenced to 23 Years Over Martial Law Crisis. A South Korean court has sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for his role in the failed martial law declaration of December 2024. Judges ruled that the imposition of martial law by then-president Yoon Suk Yeol amounted to an act of rebellion against the constitutional order. Han became the first senior official from Yoon’s administration to be convicted on rebellion charges linked to the short-lived crisis. The court found that Han tried to legitimise the martial law decree by pushing it through a cabinet meeting and later falsifying and destroying official documents. Prosecutors argued that deploying troops and police to the National Assembly and election offices constituted a self-coup aimed at undermining democracy. Although Han denied most of the accusations and said he opposed the plan, judges said he failed in his duty to defend the constitution. The lengthy sentence exceeded prosecutors’ request and was described by the court as necessary given the threat posed to South Korea’s democratic system. The verdict is expected to influence upcoming rulings involving Yoon, who faces multiple trials and potential life imprisonment or the death penalty. The martial law episode triggered mass protests, Yoon’s impeachment and eventual removal from office, shaking South Korea’s politics and global standing. Several former ministers, security chiefs and military commanders are also facing charges related to the attempted power grab.