Fate of South Korea’s Yoon ‘almost a foregone conclusion’ after Han’s shock prison term

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Park Chan-kyongJanuary 22, 2026 at 05:00 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court for his role in the December 2024 martial law decree, perjury, and other offenses. This ruling is significant because it defines the decree as an act of insurrection, contradicting ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's claim that it was intended to alert the public. The unexpectedly harsh sentence is seen as a blow to Yoon, who is awaiting his own verdict on February 19 for his role as the alleged "ringleader" of the martial law imposition. Analysts believe Han's sentence signals the courts' willingness to impose severe penalties for "insurrection from above" and will likely influence the ruling in Yoon's case. The sentence was notably longer than the 15 years requested by prosecutors.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

National Assembly 50% Seoul Central District Court 60% December 2024 martial law decree 70% South Korea ×280% Yoon Suk-yeol ×590% Han Duck-soo ×595%

Keywords

martial law 90% insurrection 80% court ruling 70% prison sentence 70% han duck-soo 60% yoon suk-yeol 60% south korea 50% impeachment 50% legal narrative 40%