The judiciary in South Korea has taken a definitive stance on a significant historical incident, as seen on Wednesday when a court deemed the 2024 martial law imposition by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol as an act of rebellion. This landmark decision resulted in a 23-year prison sentence for the former Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, due to his role in the controversial events.

Han Duck-soo’s conviction marks a pivotal moment, being the first official from Yoon’s administration found guilty of rebellion related to the martial law declaration in December 2024. This ruling is anticipated to influence future judgments involving Yoon and other associates, all of whom are facing similar charges.

Appointed by Yoon, Han held the significant position of Prime Minister, effectively making him the second-highest official in South Korea. His tenure included a critical period during which he acted as one of the three leaders in charge amid the martial law crisis. This crisis culminated in Yoon’s impeachment and subsequent removal from office.

In South Korea, rebellion ranks among the most severe accusations. The independent counsel has even sought the death penalty for Yoon, accusing him of orchestrating the rebellion. The Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to deliver a verdict on Yoon’s charges on February 19.

During a televised session, the Seoul court concluded that Yoon’s declaration of martial law was indeed rebellious. They described his deployment of military and police forces to Parliament and election offices as tantamount to “a riot” or “a self-coup” aimed at destabilizing the constitutional framework, posing a significant threat to regional stability.

The court sentenced Han for playing a key role in Yoon’s rebellion by trying to give procedural legitimacy to Yoon’s martial law decree by getting it passed through a Cabinet Council meeting. The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation and destroying it and lying under oath.

Han, who could appeal Wednesday’s ruling, has steadfastly maintained that he had told Yoon that he opposed his martial law plan. He has denied most of the other charges.

The court said Han, then prime minister, neglected his responsibilities to protect the constitution, choosing instead to take part in Yoon’s rebellion in the belief that it might succeed.

“Because of the defendant’s action, the Republic of Korea could have returned to a dark past when the basic rights of the people and the liberal democratic order were trampled upon, becoming trapped in the quagmire of dictatorships for an extended period,” judge Lee Jin-gwan said.

After the court’s ruling, Han was immediately sent to prison, according to the court. Unlike Yoon, he had not been detained before sentencing. His lengthy sentence came as a surprise as the independent counsel earlier requested 15 years in prison.

Yoon, who has already been in jail for months, faces eight criminal trials including his rebellion case over the martial law decree and other allegations. Last Friday, Yoon received a five-year prison term at the Seoul court for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and denying some Cabinet members their rights to deliberate on his martial law decree.

Yoon, a conservative, has steadfastly denied the charges of rebellion, saying he only aimed to draw public support of his fight against the main liberal opposition party which obstructed his agenda. Speaking at Friday’s court session, Yoon denounced authorities for their rebellion investigations as “frenzied,” arguing that they involved “manipulation” and “distortion.”