Former South Korean PM Han sentenced to 23 years in prison in martial law case involving former president:Former PM Han Duk-soo sentenced to 23 years in prison.

News Topical, Digital Desk : A South Korean court on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Han Duk-soo to 23 years in prison in a case related to martial law. The case involves former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who imposed martial law in the country on December 3, 2024.

Yoon was recently sentenced to five years in prison in a case related to the imposition of martial law. Han was prime minister when Yoon announced the imposition of martial law in the country. The 76-year-old Han is the first former cabinet minister to be sentenced by a court on criminal charges directly related to martial law.

Legal experts believe the verdict could have implications for other trials involving martial law. The Seoul Central District Court convicted Han because he attempted to legalize Yoon's martial law decree by having it passed at a cabinet meeting.

A judge declared the move to be rebellion. However, Han firmly stated that he had told Yoon that he opposed his martial law plan. He could appeal the court's decision.

Yoon was impeached

In December 2024, then-President Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law sparked widespread protests demanding his removal from office. Yoon was subsequently impeached, arrested, and removed from office. The most significant criminal charge against him is that the imposition of martial law amounted to rebellion. The case seeks the death penalty, and a verdict will be announced next month.