Han Duck Soo to Deliver Final Statement and Special Prosecutor's Sentencing Recommendation at Appeal Today... Sentenced to 23 Years in First Trial

Special Prosecutor’s Sentencing Recommendation and Final Statements

“Failure to Prevent Martial Law” vs. “Was Unaware”

Debate Over Signing, Destroying Proclamation and Perjury at Constitutional Court

First Trial: 23-Year Prison Sentence... Acquitted on Some Procedural Charges

Former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, accused of aiding the leader of the rebellion, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court on January 21, 2026. Photo by Yoon Dongju

The appeal trial for former Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, who is accused of participating in key duties related to rebellion, will conclude on April 7, 2026.

The Criminal Division 12-1 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Seungcheol, Cho Jingu, and Kim Mina) will hold the final hearing of the second trial for former Prime Minister Han on charges including participation in key rebellion duties, falsification of official documents, and perjury. The court will conclude evidence examination procedures, after which the special prosecution team for the rebellion case will present its sentencing recommendation, followed by the defense counsel’s closing argument and former Prime Minister Han’s final statement.

Former Prime Minister Han, who was the second-in-command of state administration, was indicted without detention in August 2025 on charges of failing to prevent the illegal proclamation of martial law, despite his obligation to check the arbitrary abuse of presidential power. He also faces charges of signing and subsequently destroying the martial law proclamation document after the fact, and of providing false testimony as a witness during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial of the president, claiming he was unaware of the martial law proclamation.

Previously, in January 2026, the court of first instance found former Prime Minister Han guilty of the main charges and sentenced him to 23 years in prison—eight years more than the 15-year sentence requested by prosecutors—and ordered him into custody from the courtroom. However, the court acquitted him of charges related to confirming parliamentary approval of the martial law declaration through then-Policy Coordination Office Chief Bang Ki Seon for procedural purposes, as well as charges of delaying the Cabinet meeting to lift martial law, determining that these did not constitute criminal conduct.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.