SEOUL — A South Korean court docket jailed former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for 23 years on Wednesday, on costs that included rebel regarding ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial legislation in December 2024.
Han, 76, is the primary former cupboard minister to be handed a ruling by a court docket on felony costs immediately associated to martial legislation, which authorized consultants have stated might show a bellwether for different trials.
The Seoul Central District Court docket discovered Han responsible as a result of he was instrumental in establishing the outward look of a cupboard assembly that facilitated the declaration, a choose stated, a transfer he described as a “top-down rebel”.
Han additionally mentioned plans to dam the operate of main establishments resembling parliament as a part of the rebel, the choose added.
“The defendant was a primary minister who had been not directly given democratic legitimacy and accountability … However, the defendant selected to show a blind eye … and take part as a member of the December 3 rebel,” the choose stated.
“Consequently, South Korea was at risk of returning to the darkish previous when the fundamental rights and liberal democratic order of the folks had been violated, probably stopping them from escaping … dictatorship for a very long time.”
The court docket discovered Han responsible of “participating in (the) key motion of rebel”, in addition to on associated costs of perjury and falsifying an official doc.
“I’ll humbly comply with the choose’s resolution,” Han, clad in a swimsuit and inexperienced tie, stated after the ruling.
He had denied wrongdoing on all costs besides perjury, saying in November that whereas he regretted not having the ability to cease Yoon from declaring martial legislation, he “by no means agreed to it or tried to assist”.
In an uncommon occasion in South Korean court docket proceedings, the 23-year time period exceeded a sentence of 15 years sought by prosecutors in November.
Han was detained by the court docket instantly after the ruling, which might be appealed. Han’s lawyer stated it might be taken to the Supreme Court docket.
“This ruling is one thing that residents who oppose martial legislation can totally settle for,” 23-year-old Kim Su-hyeon, a commuter watching the information on tv at a prepare station, informed Reuters.
Held senior posts underneath 5 presidents
Han is an skilled technocrat who served in senior posts underneath 5 presidents.
He grew to become appearing president after Yoon was impeached, earlier than his personal impeachment on accusations of getting aided Yoon within the martial legislation declaration.
The Constitutional Court docket overturned Han’s impeachment, restoring his powers to function chief earlier than he resigned from the publish to run in a snap election in June. He ended his bid for the presidency following rifts amongst conservatives.
“I don’t know whether or not this aged man (Han)… meant to dedicate himself to the folks of South Korea in his personal method, however the final result wasn’t good,” stated one other commuter, 79-year-old Kim In-sik.
Yoon, who faces eight separate trials, was handed a five-year jail time period final week for costs that included obstructing makes an attempt to arrest him following martial legislation. He has appealed.
Yoon faces one other ruling on February 19 on essentially the most critical cost of “masterminding an rebel”.
Prosecutors have sought the loss of life penalty in that case, although South Korea has had no execution since 1997.
