Big legal update coming out of Seoul today! ⚖️ The Seoul High Court has just commuted the sentence of South Korea's former Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, shortening his prison term from 23 years down to 15 years on appeal.
But what exactly happened? Let's dive into the backstory for those who need a refresher. 🧐
This all stems from the chaotic events of December 3, 2024, when then-President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law. While the National Assembly moved quickly to revoke it just hours later, the legal aftermath has been intense. Former President Yoon was sentenced to life in prison back in February for ringleading the insurrection.
Han Duck-soo, who served as the second-in-command, was found to have played a critical role in the martial law declaration. The court stressed that his guilt was grave, noting that he abandoned his serious responsibilities to join the insurrection. The charges didn't stop there—Han was also accused of signing and then discarding a backdated martial law proclamation and giving false testimony during Yoon's impeachment trial. 😬
Han was first sentenced to 23 years by the Seoul Central District Court on January 21, 2026, and was taken into custody immediately. While today's ruling reduces his time to 15 years, the legal drama isn't over. Han's legal team has already indicated that they plan to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. 🏛️
It is a wild reminder of how high the stakes are in global politics. Stay tuned for more updates! 🌍💬✨
Reference(s):
Sentence for S. Korea's ex-PM shortened to 15 years on appeal
cgtn.com
