A South Korean court has found former Prime Minister Han Duck‑soo guilty of a key action of insurrection linked to last year’s short-lived declaration of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Han 76 played a central role in giving apparent legitimacy to the order failing to hold a lawful cabinet meeting required under South Korean law.
Han becomes the first former senior cabinet official criminally convicted in connection with the controversial martial law episode which triggered mass protests and political turmoil across the country. Prosecutors said he aided and abetted then-President Yoon Suk‑Yeol’s attempt to seize extraordinary powers including misrepresenting his role under oath. Han has denied the allegations insisting he never agreed with or assisted in the martial law attempt.
The verdict is a landmark in South Korea’s judicial review of the episode and is expected to influence other ongoing cases connected to the short-lived power grab including charges against Yoon himself. Experts say the conviction underscores the judiciary’s willingness to hold top officials accountable for unconstitutional actions and could reshape public trust in political institutions.
Authorities and political analysts are watching closely as the ruling reverberates through the nation’s political landscape highlighting the tension between executive authority and legal accountability in South Korea’s democracy.
