Sentence for South Korea’s ex-PM Han commuted to 15 years on appeal for aiding insurrection

The Seoul High Court commuted the prison sentence of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to 15 years on Thursday, overturning a lower court’s 23-year ruling. Han was convicted of aiding and abetting the December 2024 insurrection led by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is currently serving a life sentence. Despite the reduction, the court emphasized the gravity of Han’s actions, stating he abandoned his responsibilities as second-in-command to join the illegal uprising.
The charges against Han involve critical roles in the martial law declaration, including signing a backdated proclamation and providing false testimony during Yoon’s impeachment trial. While the independent counsel had sought to uphold the original 23-year term, the appellate court’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal fallout from the short-lived emergency decree. Han’s legal team has already indicated plans to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
Credit : CGTN