23-year sentence for Han Duck-soo: former premier's role in South Korea's martial law attempt

Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk's team had asked for a 15-year prison sentence for Han on charges of aiding and abetting the insurrection, accusing him of playing a key role in the execution of the plan "to subvert the democratic order" and of perjury.

"Han is believed to have played a significant role in the insurrectionary acts of Yoon Suk-yeol and others, ensuring, at least formally, compliance with procedural requirements," Lee recoiled, pointing out that although the defendant "expressed concerns to Yoon Suk-yeol" about his decision, he did not "explicitly oppose" or urge other members of the government to discourage him.

During the trial, the former premier denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he never supported or favoured the declaration of martial law. After Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office in April 2025, following impeachment validated by the Constitutional Court, Han took over as interim president and was at one point seen as a strong conservative candidate in last year's early elections.

He resigned from office in May to pursue a presidential bid, which soon failed when Yoon Suk-yeol's party refused to nominate him as its leader.

Han, 76, was ordered to be immediately transported to prison immediately after the sentence was served.