SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An South Korean appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of a former prime minister convicted of rebellion for his role in then President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ill-fated imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Ex-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, a Yoon appointee, was sentenced to 23 years by a Seoul court in January. Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for rebellion the next month.
On Thursday, the Seoul High Court upheld most of Han’s convictions, but reduced his sentence to 15 years.
It upheld charges including that Han tried to create the appearance of legitimacy for Yoon’s illegal decree by getting it endorsed at a Cabinet meeting and discussing plans to cut off of water and electricity to critical media agencies. The court also affirmed convictions for falsifying the martial law proclamation, for destroying it and for lying under oath.
The Seoul High Court said that Han’s “criminal liabilities are very grave” because he “abandoned his immense responsibilities” as the No.2 official in the Yoon administration and participated in the rebellion.
Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said that both the district and appeals courts viewed Han’s charges as very grave. Park said that the Seoul High Court still likely determined that a 15-year term is appropriate for Han, given rulings on others involved in Yoon’s martial law such as his Interior Minister Lee Sang-min who got seven years in prison.
The special prosecutor requested a 15-year sentence for Han during his trial at the Seoul Central District Court. Park said that the 23 years the court handed down was higher than expected but still within the normal range for Han's crimes.
Han and the prosecutor have seven days to appeal Thursday’s ruling to the Supreme Court, the country’s top court.
Han, 76, is a career bureaucrat who served as prime minister twice during his 40 years of public service, first under liberal President Roh Moo-hyun from 2007 to 2008 and later under the conservative Yoon. Han was one of three people who served as caretaker leaders after Yoon was suspended from office over his martial law gambit.
Yoon was eventually impeached by lawmakers before the Constitutional Court permanently removed him from office in April last year. His liberal rival Lee Jae Myung succeeded him after winning a snap election.
FILE - Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, center, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for his first sentencing trial in the insurrection case, in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 21, 2026. (Chung Sung-Jun/Pool Photo via AP, File)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs handed Minnesota the worst postseason loss in franchise history, beating the Timberwolves 133-95 on Wednesday night to even their Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
Stephon Castle had 21 points and De'Aaron Fox added 16 points for San Antonio, which shot 50% from the field and 41% on 3-pointers. It was the highest-scoring playoff game for the Spurs since a series-clinching 145-105 win over Denver on May 4, 1983.
Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each scored 12 points for Minnesota.
Edwards came off the bench again as Minnesota continued to restrict his minutes in his second game back from a hyperextended left knee.
Games 3 and 4 are Friday and Sunday in Minneapolis.
With Wembanyama playing more aggressively on offense from the outset, the Spurs put the series-opening loss behind them quickly.
Minnesota's previous largest postseason defeat was by 30 points to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003.
Only the margin of victory was in doubt Monday as both teams sent their starters to the bench with 10 minutes remaining and the Spurs leading 104-66.
After combining to score 21 points on 10-for-31 shooting in Game 1, Wembanyama and Fox combined to go 12 of 25 from the field Wednesday.
The All-Star duo scored the Spurs' first 11 points as they raced to a 29-point lead in the first half.
The Spurs missed their first three shots, but Wembanyama followed the third attempt by flying through the lane and throwing down a right-handed dunk to open the scoring.
Minnesota was held to 35 points in the first half. The Timberwolves shot 29.8% from the field before halftime and were 2 for 15 on 3-pointers as they fell behind by 25 points.
Spurs rookie Carter Bryant soared for a two-handed slam for his first points of the series and Wembanyama followed with a 3-pointer for a 43-26 lead midway through the second quarter.
Back-to-back slams by Dylan Harper and Castle were part of a 11-0 run that extended the advantage to 59-34.
San Antonio has not lost consecutive games since falling at Minnesota and Oklahoma City in mid-January.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) is blocked by fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) and guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a play during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during the first half in Game 2 of a second-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
