Han had "abandoned the grave responsibilities" of his position by engaging in the declaration of martial law in South Korea in 2024, said an appeals court judge.
Han had"abandoned the grave responsibilities" of his position by engaging in the declaration of martial law in South Korea in 2024, said an appeals court judge.
Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrives for a closing hearing for his case at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Nov 26, 2025. Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
SEOUL: A South Korean appeals court reduced the sentence of former prime minister Han Duck-soo on Thursday by eight years for crimes relating to ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol'sand plunged South Korea into chaos, but only lasted around six hours as opposition lawmakers moved quickly to overturn it in a vote. An appeals court in the capital Seoul cut that by eight years on Thursday, with the presiding judge announcing:"We sentence the defendant to 15 years in prison.
"The court still maintained most of Han's convictions, but lessened the penalties after taking into account his"more than 50 years as a public official prior to the martial law declaration". "The records also make it difficult to find evidence showing that the defendant participated more actively in the insurrection, such as by conspiring in advance or systematically leading the operation," the judge said.
However, he said Han had"abandoned the grave responsibilities arising from the authority and position entrusted to him and instead sided with those participating in the acts of insurrection". After MPs passed the motion to lift martial law, Han convened and presided over a cabinet meeting on Yoon's behalf to rescind it, the court said. Han, wearing a white shirt and a dark suit with no tie, listened to the verdict without showing much emotion.
The judge chided Han for failing to oppose Yoon despite having witnessed illegal suspensions of civilian rule in the 1970s and '80s while serving as a government official during South Korea's authoritarian era.
"He had experienced unconstitutional and unlawful martial law measures and insurrectionary situations himself, and was therefore well aware of the extensive damage and chaos such events could cause, as well as their seriousness and gravity," he said. The career technocrat formerly served in various other government roles, including finance minister, and the court noted his"multiple" awards for services to the South Korean state.
The verdict marked the conclusion of the latest in a string of appeal trials involving people close to Yoon. Her crimes are not related to the martial law decree and involve bribery and stock manipulation. A lower court initially acquitted her of the latter charge, but an appeals court overturned that decision last week, resulting in the heavier penalty.
We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.
Han Duck-Soo Martial Law Yoon Suk Yeol
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fire on South Korean Ship in Strait of Hormuz Prompts InvestigationA fire broke out on the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to an investigation into the cause and concerns about regional shipping safety. No casualties were reported, and the vessel is being towed for repairs. Former US President Trump has suggested South Korea join a coalition to secure the waterway.
Read more »
South Korea to probe ship fire in Strait of Hormuz, Trump blames Iranian attackSEOUL - Seoul said on Tuesday (May 5) that authorities will investigate the cause of an explosion and fire on a South Korean-operated ship in the Strait of Hormuz in an incident US President Donald Trump blamed on an Iranian attack.'The exact cause of the accident would be figured out after the vessel is towed and its damage is assessed,'...
Read more »
South Korea inflation near 2-year high, raising likelihood of rate hikesSEOUL - South Korea's consumer prices rose in April at the steepest pace in nearly two years on a surge in oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict, raising the likelihood of interest rate hikes in the year's second half to curb inflation pressures.The consumer price index rose 2.6 per cent in April from a year earlier, after rising...
Read more »
AI boom drives a rally in buying of tech shares, pushing South Korea's Kospi to a recordTOKYO - South Korea's Kospi soared nearly 7 per cent to a fresh record on Wednesday (May 6) as Samsung Electronics' stock jumped nearly 13 per cent in a rally driven by expectations of strong growth in artificial intelligence and hopes for progress in ending the US-Iran war.
Read more »
Kids Review Met Gala 2024 Looks: Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Sabrina Carpenter and MoreChildren aged 3 to 14 give their unfiltered opinions on the Met Gala's 'Fashion Is Art' dress code, critiquing celebrities like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Sabrina Carpenter, and Heidi Klum with imaginative and humorous commentary.
Read more »
North Korea revises constitution to define territory bordering South Korea, drop reunification referencesNorth Korea has updated its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea and remove references to reunification, codifying Kim Jong Un's push to treat the two Koreas as separate states. The revision also designates Kim as head of state and confirms his control over nuclear forces.
Read more »