• Han Duck-soo's prison sentence reduced from 23 years to 15 years.
• The reduction relates to his role in the controversial martial law declared by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
• The appeals court cited Han's long public service and lack of active participation in the insurrection as reasons for the lighter sentence.

A South Korean appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo from 23 years to 15 years, largely for his involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration in December 2024. The court deemed the previous sentence excessive and cut it by eight years, announcing: “We sentence the defendant to 15 years in prison," according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The martial law declaration, which temporarily suspended civilian government, created significant upheaval in South Korea, lasting only about six hours due to swift opposition action. Han's earlier conviction included multiple charges, but the appellate court maintained most of his convictions, as evidenced by statements highlighting his “more than 50 years as a public official” which justified the reduced sentence, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

The presiding judge remarked that the evidence did not sufficiently prove Han's active participation in the martial law insurrection, stating, "The records also make it difficult to find evidence showing that the defendant participated more actively in the insurrection.” Despite the leniency shown, the judge noted Han had “abandoned the grave responsibilities” associated with his position. Han, who has been imprisoned since January, showed little emotion during the verdict, reflecting the ongoing tensions in the political landscape, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.