▲ Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was put on trial on charges of participating in the December 3 emergency martial law, attends the appellate sentencing hearing held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. The 12-1 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court sentenced former Prime Minister Han to 15 years in prison that day.
The Supreme Court full bench will review the appeals of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min on charges of playing a major role in an insurrection.
In a media briefing on the afternoon of the 5th, the Supreme Court stated, "The two cases have garnered significant public interest, require historical and judicial evaluation, and need to be reviewed together as the defendants are accomplices," adding, "According to requests from respective small benches, the cases will be deliberated by the full bench."
The cases of former Prime Minister Han and former Minister Lee had been handled by the Second Small Bench (Presiding Justice Oh Kyung-mi) and the Third Small Bench (Presiding Justice Lee Heung-goo), respectively. However, with the referral to the full bench, they will now be reviewed and judged by all Supreme Court justices (excluding the Minister of National Court Administration).
Appeals cases are typically adjudicated by small benches consisting of four justices. However, they are referred to the full bench when a small bench fails to reach a consensus, when there is a need to alter existing precedents, or when it is deemed inappropriate for a small bench to try the case.
Supreme Court internal regulations define cases inappropriate for small benches as those that ▲ garner exceptionally high public interest ▲ require a final judgment to resolve social conflicts, or ▲ involve issues requiring a historical and judicial evaluation.
Former Prime Minister Han was indicted on charges including playing a major role in an insurrection for allegedly proposing the convening of a cabinet meeting to create the appearance that former President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3, 2024, emergency martial law declaration had undergone cabinet deliberation, and attempting to obtain signatures from cabinet members after the martial law declaration. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in his second trial by the Seoul High Court's dedicated martial law division.
His sentence was reduced from the 23-year prison term handed down in the first trial.
Former Minister Lee was indicted on charges including receiving instructions from former President Yoon to blockade major institutions such as the National Assembly and to cut off electricity and water supply to media outlets, and subsequently instructing the head of the National Fire Agency to "cooperate and take appropriate measures if contacted by the police." He was sentenced to 9 years in prison in his second trial.
In the case of former Minister Lee, his sentence was increased from the 7-year prison term given in the first trial.
Former Prime Minister Han, former Minister Lee, and the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eun-seok all appealed the second-instance rulings, bringing the matter before the Supreme Court for a final decision.
(Photo provided by Seoul High Court, Yonhap News)
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