Thursday, May 7, 2026-A South Korean appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo from 23 years to 15 years in a major ruling tied to the country’s controversial 2024 martial law crisis.
The court upheld most of his convictions, including aiding the attempt to legitimize the declaration and failing to block unconstitutional measures linked to the short-lived emergency order. The decision underscores how deeply senior officials were involved in the failed power grab that briefly shook South Korea’s democratic system.
Judges said Han played a key administrative role by participating in Cabinet-level procedures that gave the appearance of legality to the martial law declaration.
He was also found to have been aware of plans that targeted critical infrastructure, including utilities and media operations, but did not act to stop them. While the court maintained his culpability, it acknowledged his long public service career and adjusted the sentence accordingly.
The ruling is part of a wider wave of prosecutions stemming from the failed martial law attempt, which has already led to severe sentences for multiple top officials and former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The case continues to fuel political tension in Seoul as appeals are expected to follow, keeping legal and institutional scrutiny on one of the country’s most serious constitutional crises in decades.
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