Han Duck-soo, the former Prime Minister sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in key duties related to insurrection, is likely to await the Supreme Court's decision while free. The court has scheduled an additional hearing for the day before his detention period expires, but no ruling date has been set.
According to legal sources on the 10th, the Supreme Court's full bench will hold its second hearing on the appeal case involving Han and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min on the 19th. This follows the first hearing held on September 29.
Han's detention period is set to expire on the 20th, while Lee's detention will last until December 18. The scheduled hearing is not for a ruling but for case deliberation, raising the possibility that Han may be released without a final judgment before his detention period ends. However, a decision on his release has not yet been made.
The special prosecutor's team, led by Jo Eun-seok, submitted a request to the Supreme Court on the 5th for a swift ruling, citing concerns that the two could evade justice if released before a verdict is reached.
The Supreme Court referred both cases to the full bench in August due to the high public interest and the historical significance of the judicial evaluation, as well as the need to hear the cases together since the defendants are co-conspirators. The key issue at hand is the interpretation and application of the charge of insurrection key duties.
Han is accused of suggesting a cabinet meeting to create the appearance of deliberation among government officials when martial law was declared on December 3, 2024. He is also charged with signing a document related to the martial law declaration that was created after the fact and requesting its destruction, as well as providing false testimony during the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Previously, Han was sentenced to 23 years in prison in the first trial, which was reduced to 15 years in the appeal.
Lee, meanwhile, is facing charges for his involvement in the insurrection, including relaying orders from former President Yoon to block key institutions and disconnect specific media outlets to the Fire Chief.
In the first trial, Lee received a seven-year sentence, which was increased to nine years in the appeal.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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