15-year sentence sought for former Prime Minister

The special counsel team has sought a 15-year prison sentence for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on charges of abetting insurrection. Han testified in court that he never supported the declaration of martial law.

Citing a precedent from 45 years ago related to an insurrection case, the special counsel team said excuses are unacceptable for someone who has heavy responsibilities. The investigators also said there are allegations of judicial obstruction, including the drafting of false official documents.

Meanwhile, Han’s legal defense team pleaded not guilty. They said a prime minister has no constitutional or legal obligation to prevent the president from declaring martial law. The first-trial verdict for Han is slated for January 21 next year.