South Korean court reduces Han Duck-soo’s prison term in martial law case

South Korean court reduces Han Duck-soo’s prison term in martial law caseSeoul appeals court cuts ex-prime minister’s prison sentence from 23 years to 15.A South Korean appeals court has reduced the sentence of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo by eight years for crimes relating to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law.The verdict was issued in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Thursday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4North Korea says it is not bound by any treaty on nuclear non-proliferationlist 2 of 4North Korean women’s club to play rare football match in the Southlist 3 of 4K-pop’s BTS comeback tour rallies South Korea’s global ‘soft power’ drivelist 4 of 4South Korea holds pro-Palestine protest in solidarity with Gazaend of listYoon’s decree in December 2024 briefly suspended civilian government and plunged South Korea into chaos, but it only lasted about six hours as opposition lawmakers moved quickly to overturn it in a vote.A lower court had sentenced Han in January to a heavier-than-expected jail term of 23 years for engaging in the insurrection, as well as on related charges of perjury and falsifying an official document.But the appeals court in Seoul cut that by eight years on Thursday, with the presiding judge announcing: “We sentence the defendant to 15 years in prison.”The court still maintained most of Han’s convictions but lessened the penalties after taking into account his “more than 50 years as a public official prior to the martial law declaration”.“The records also make it difficult to find evidence showing that the defendant participated more actively in the insurrection, such as by conspiring in advance or systematically leading the operation,” the judge said.However, he said Han had “abandoned the grave responsibilities arising from the authority and position entrusted to him and instead sided with those participating in the acts of insurrection”.Han, wearing a white shirt and a dark suit with no tie, listened to the verdict without showing much emotion.