S Korean ex-PM sentenced over martial law roleTWENTY-THREE YEARS: A judge said that Han Duck-soo ‘played a significant role in the insurrectionary acts’ of former president Yoon Suk-yeol by ensuring complianceAFP, SEOULFormer South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo yesterday was sentenced to 23 years in prison for aiding and abetting a declaration of martial law that briefly suspended civilian rule. Former South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo arrives at the Seoul Central District Court yesterday. Yoon’s imposition of martial law saw armed troops deployed to the South Korean National Assembly and the National Election Commission before it was vetoed by the opposition-led National Assembly. During the course of the trial, Han denied wrongdoing, saying that he had never supported or helped the martial law declaration. The verdict comes after Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing justice and other crimes linked to his martial law move.

Source: Taipei Times January 21, 2026 18:32 UTC