South Korea's Court of Appeal on May 7 reduced the prison sentence for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo from 23 years to 15 years, related to his role in the case of former President Yoon Suk Yeol imposing a short martial law in 2024.
The court upheld the first-instance opinion that former Prime Minister Han had taken important actions to support Mr. Yoon's declaration of martial law and did not prevent this decision.
According to the presiding judge, Mr. Han Duck-soo, 76 years old, convened a cabinet meeting to complete legal procedures to impose martial law. The court rejected Mr. Han Duck-soo's argument that the meeting was organized to prevent Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol's plan.
The judge also said that Mr. Han was aware of the former Minister of Safety's plan to cut off electricity and water to some media companies during martial law, but did not prevent it.
Prime Minister status requires the defendant to restrain and control the president's abuse of power, and at the same time help him exercise power in accordance with the law," the judge said. The court held that Mr. Han had given up that great responsibility and sided with participating in the rebellion.
The court also concluded that Mr. Han committed the crime of forging presidential documents and falsely declaring.
However, the judge said he had considered Mr. Han's 50-year service in the state apparatus, including his time working at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The court determined that there was not enough basis to determine that Mr. Han was actively involved in Mr. Yoon's plan. The judge also mentioned that Mr. Han later convened another cabinet meeting to lift martial law after parliament voted against it.
Previously, a lower court in January sentenced Mr. Han to 23 years in prison, stating that he had "ignored" the martial law plan and participated in an important rebellion.
Prosecutors previously proposed a 15-year prison sentence before the first-instance verdict, but later requested a 23-year sentence in the appellate trial.
Mr. Han denied all charges, except for the crime of false reporting. He said he regretted not being able to prevent Mr. Yoon from imposing martial law, but "never agreed or tried to support".
Mr. Han's lawyer said he would continue to appeal. Meanwhile, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol is facing 8 separate trials and has been sentenced to life imprisonment on the most serious charge of leading a rebellion related to martial law.
