Former Prime Minister Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison in South Korea
An important court ruling has been announced in South Korea regarding the political crisis related to the state of emergency in December 2024. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
The Seoul Central District Court found former Prime Minister Han Duck Soo guilty of involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt to impose a state of emergency and sentenced him to 23 years in prison. The court emphasized that this situation is not a simple political mistake but is interpreted as an attempt to overthrow the government.
According to the investigation materials, Han Duck Soo engaged in a series of illegal actions to legitimize the decision. Specifically, he was accused of manipulating documents, destroying evidence, and giving false testimony.
Although the prosecution initially demanded a 15-year prison sentence, the court assessed the case as a high risk to state governance and democracy and increased the sentence. Upon announcement of the verdict, Han Duck Soo was taken into custody in the courtroom.
The former prime minister denied the charges against him and announced his intention to appeal the decision. It is recalled that in December 2024, former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency citing the threat from North Korea.
However, the parliament annulled this decision and initiated impeachment proceedings against Yoon Suk Yeol. Han Duck Soo served briefly as acting president during that period.
The court proceedings related to Yoon Suk Yeol are still ongoing. While he has received prison sentences for some episodes, the prosecution is even demanding the death penalty for other cases.
This court ruling once again demonstrated the priority of legality in state governance in South Korea. Future appeal processes and new decisions regarding Yoon Suk Yeol's case are expected to cause significant changes in the country's political life.
