South Korea's former leader faces a 23-year prison sentence for his role in a martial law crisis that shocked the nation. The case centers around the imposition of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol, which a South Korean court has deemed an act of rebellion. This decision comes as a result of the involvement of the country's former prime minister, Han Duck-soo, who has been convicted of rebellion charges related to the martial law decree. Han, appointed by Yoon, played a pivotal role in the crisis, serving as one of the three caretaker leaders during the martial law period that led to Yoon's impeachment and eventual removal from office.
The court's verdict is significant as it sets the stage for upcoming rulings involving Yoon and his associates, who also face rebellion charges. The independent counsel recently demanded the death penalty for Yoon, who is accused of masterminding a rebellion. The Seoul Central District Court will make a ruling on Yoon's rebellion charges on February 19th. The court's decision was based on the view that Yoon's martial law decree amounted to a rebellion, as his actions were seen as a 'riot' or 'self-coup' aimed at undermining the constitutional order and disrupting South Korea's stability.
Han's sentence of 23 years in prison was a surprise, as the independent counsel had earlier requested a 15-year term. Han, a career bureaucrat, served as prime minister twice during his 40 years of public service, first under President Roh Moo-hyun and later under Yoon. He became acting president after Yoon's impeachment by the opposition-controlled National Assembly in December 2024, but was quickly impeached himself following a dispute with opposition lawmakers over the filling of vacant seats at the Constitutional Court. Han's actions during the martial law crisis, including his attempts to give procedural legitimacy to the decree, have been deemed negligent in his responsibilities as prime minister to protect the constitution.
The martial law decree, issued by Yoon, was met with strong opposition, and many of the troops and police officers he sent to the assembly did not aggressively control the area. Thousands of people gathered to protest the decree, and enough lawmakers voted down Yoon's decree to prevent its implementation. Despite the lack of major violence, the short-lived martial law enforcement evoked memories of past dictatorships in South Korea, which had not been seen since the 1980s. The political turmoil and power vacuum that followed tarnished the country's international image and affected its diplomacy and financial markets.
In addition to Han, Yoon's defense, safety, and justice ministers, spy and police chiefs, as well as some of his top military commanders, have been indicted on rebellion and other charges related to the martial law imposition. The case has sparked intense debate and raised questions about the balance between public support and the rule of law, with Yoon denying the charges of rebellion and claiming his actions were aimed at drawing public support in his fight against the Democratic Party.
