Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duk-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday. Earlier, former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to five years in prison in the same case. ​The former PM is accused of playing an important role in the rebellion by helping former President Yoon impose martial law for some time.

According to the report of Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court has given this sentence in the first decision. The court’s decision considered the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024 as a rebellion. This entire hearing was broadcast on live television.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team had sought a 15-year sentence for the former PM. However, the court has increased it to 23 years. These charges included encouraging the leader of the rebellion, playing an important role in the rebellion and giving false testimony.

During the hearing of the case, Judge Lee Jin-gwan ordered Han to be kept in custody. The court said that Han can destroy the evidence. Han took part in the rebellion by proposing that Yun call a cabinet meeting before promulgating the decree.

It said Han did not oppose the announcement during a cabinet meeting and appeared to have instigated then-Home Minister Lee Sang-min to implement Yoon’s orders. The former president instigated power cuts and water cuts to media outlets critical of the administration.

“As Prime Minister, it was the duty of the defendant to abide by the Constitution and the laws and to make every possible effort to implement and protect the Constitution,” the judge said during the sentencing hearing.

“He thought that the December 3 rebellion could be successful. Therefore, he neglected his duty and responsibility till the end and decided to participate as a member,” the judge said.

Han is the first member of Yun’s cabinet to be sentenced under a martial law decree. However, the former president’s martial law order was lifted six hours after voting in the National Assembly.

The court also found Han guilty of signing an altered proclamation to enhance the legitimacy of the decree after it was lifted, refuting it, and lying under oath in the Constitutional Court.

The former Prime Minister has denied all the allegations. He says that apart from the declaration, he had no prior knowledge about the martial law plan and he never agreed to it.

This decision may affect former President Yoon’s own trial. The former President is accused of rebelling by ordering martial law. His trial ended last week, with the special counsel team demanding the death penalty. The verdict in this case will be pronounced on February 19.

The former South Korean president imposed martial law during his rule in December 2024. This is the first verdict against Yoon by the Seoul Central District Court in the same case.​