Former South Korean Prime Minister Sentenced to 23 Years

On January 21, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo to 23 years in prison related to his involvement in the martial law declared by former President Yoon Seok-yeol back in December 2024.

Han, who has had a long career in diplomacy and has served as prime minister twice, is notable for being the first high-ranking official from Yoon’s administration to face conviction. The court found him guilty of sedition for attempting to obscure the martial law’s imposition through Cabinet actions and was also charged with perjury and tampering with evidence.

The declaration occurred on December 3, 2024, when President Yoon labeled the opposition-led National Assembly a “den of criminals” and accused its members of being “anti-national” and “North Korea followers.” To enforce his order, he sent military and police forces to the National Assembly and National Election Office, effectively undermining civilian authority and disrupting parliamentary processes.

Although this prompt declaration led to mass protests, they quickly subsided after just six hours, with lawmakers voting to revoke the martial law, helping to avert further violence. The judiciary later described the move as a “self-coup,” reminiscent of South Korea’s authoritarian past in the 1980s.

The court’s reasoning hinged on Han’s attempts to organize an emergency Cabinet meeting to lend an appearance of legitimacy to the ordinance. Beyond his rebellion involvement, he was also convicted of making false statements and revoking official martial law notifications.

Han has maintained his innocence, asserting that he opposed Yoon’s plans at the time, but the court dismissed his defense. Ultimately, it ruled that he, as the country’s second-highest official, had failed in his duties by choosing to align with the rebellion’s interests rather than uphold his oath.

Judge Lee Jin-kwan remarked, “Due to the defendant’s actions, the fundamental rights of the people and the democratic order were violated, raising concerns that South Korea might regress to a period mired in dictatorship.”

Following Yoon’s impeachment, Han served briefly as acting president in December 2024, although his position quickly became fragile when he faced impeachment himself after a dispute with opposition party members over a vacancy on the Constitutional Court, which would affect Yoon’s permanent removal from office.

Even after a court reinstated him, Han resigned in April 2025 after a judge made Yoon’s removal official. He later attempted to contest in the presidential election in June but withdrew after failing to secure his party’s nomination. The election ultimately saw Liberal Party leader Lee Jae-myung claim victory.

Currently imprisoned, Yoon is dealing with various criminal charges while his trial continues. He refutes all accusations related to the rebellion, but his situation remains unstable. Last week, he received a five-year sentence for charges including obstruction of official duties, abuse of power, and document forgery connected to the martial law declaration. Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty in a separate riot case, with a final verdict expected on February 19.