By our reporter in Seoul
SOUTH KOREA’S former Prime Minister has been slapped with a 23-year prison sentence for his role in a “terrifying” plot to subvert democracy.
Han Duck-soo, 76, was led away in handcuffs Wednesday after a court ruled he was a key player in the failed December 2024 martial law decree.
The judge delivered a blistering verdict, stating the move was a direct attempt to “subvert the constitutional order” and plunge the nation back into the “dark past” of military dictatorship.
The court heard how Han aided former President Yoon Suk Yeol in a desperate “self-coup.”
On the night of December 3, 2024, Yoon stunned the world by declaring martial law on live TV, claiming “anti-state forces” were threatening the country. Within minutes, armed troops and helicopters descended on the National Assembly in Seoul to block MPs from voting.
Prosecutors proved that Han:
Faked it: Created a “procedural facade” by holding an illegal cabinet meeting to rubber-stamp the decree.
Lied: Committed perjury during the President’s impeachment trial.
Covered up: Destroyed official documents to hide the evidence of the plot.
The 23-year sentence was far harsher than the 15 years requested by prosecutors, reflecting the court’s fury at the “top-down insurrection.”
Six Hours of Chaos
The sentencing marks the climax of a political drama that nearly broke South Korea.
In late 2024, President Yoon found himself cornered by a hostile parliament and mounting scandals. His solution was to send in the army.
For six hours, the world watched as elite paratroopers smashed windows to enter the parliament building.
However, the plot failed when thousands of brave citizens surrounded the building, and MPs managed to sneak inside to vote the decree down.
Yoon was eventually impeached and removed from office in April 2025. He is currently awaiting his own trial, scheduled for next month.
