A South Korean court on Jan. 21 convicted former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of a key act of insurrection tied to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived December 2024 declaration of martial law. The conviction rested on Han’s failure to convene a lawful cabinet meeting required under South Korean law before imposing martial law. The ruling is a notable development in the legal fallout from the December political crisis.
Ex-South Korean PM Han Duck-soo Convicted Over Martial Law Action
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JANUARY 21: Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (C) arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for his first sentencing trial in the insurrection case on January 21, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS
SEOUL, Jan 21 — A South Korean court on Wednesday convicted former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of carrying out a key act of insurrection related to ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law in December 2024.
The court found Han guilty because he did not convene a lawful cabinet meeting required by South Korean law before imposing martial law, a procedural step the judge said was essential to the legality of any such declaration.
Court Ruling and Context
The ruling centers on the procedural requirement that a cabinet meeting must be held to authorize the imposition of martial law. The judge determined that Han’s failure to call that meeting constituted a core element of the charged insurrection.
Significance
The conviction is a major legal development stemming from the political turmoil around the December 2024 martial law declaration, which was short-lived and widely scrutinized. The case underscores the legal checks on executive power and the importance of following statutory procedures in crises.
Reporting: Joyce Lee; Editing: Ed Davies.
Help us improve.
