Special Prosecution Demands Five-Year Prison Sentence for Han Duck-soo over Non-Appointment of Constitutional Court Justice

Four Years Requested for Jeong Jinseok and Kim Joohyun,
Three Years for Lee Wonmo

“Delayed Nation’s Return to Normalcy and Blocked the People’s Choice”

Prosecutors have demanded a five-year prison sentence for Han Duck-soo, former Prime Minister, who was put on trial on charges of failing to appoint a Constitutional Court justice and nominating the President's quota candidate without proper vetting thereafter.

On the 7th, the second trial sentencing hearing for Han Duck-soo, former Prime Minister, on charges of engaging in important duties related to the martial law on December 3rd, is being broadcast live on TV in the Seoul Station waiting hall. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 28th, during the final hearing for Han's case—on charges including dereliction of duty—held by the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan), the special prosecution team for insurrection led by Jo Eun-seok requested that Han be sentenced to five years in prison.

The prosecution also demanded four-year prison sentences for Jeong Jin-seok, former Chief Presidential Secretary, and Kim Joo-hyun, former Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, who were indicted together, and a three-year sentence for Lee Won-mo, former Secretary for Public Office Discipline.

The special prosecution team stated, "This case represents two infringements on the constitutional order linked as one," adding, "Former Prime Minister Han, by not appointing a Constitutional Court justice, brought the state to a standstill and then abused his nomination powers to block the will of the people."

Han is accused of failing to appoint the Constitutional Court nominee recommended by the National Assembly after assuming the role of acting president following the impeachment of former President Yoon Sukyeol in December 2024.

The special prosecution team assessed that Han refused to appoint the nominee for the stated reason of "no bipartisan agreement," without legal grounds, ahead of the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial for former President Yoon. The prosecution noted, "At a moment when the country needed to return to normalcy as swiftly as possible, the process was instead delayed. It was not a matter of ignorance, but of conscious inaction."

After the removal of former President Yoon from office, Han, along with former Chief Secretary Jeong, former Senior Secretary Kim, and former Secretary Lee, is also accused of nominating Ham Sang-hoon and Lee Wankyu as the President’s quota Constitutional Court candidates without proper background screening.

The special prosecution team emphasized, "Former Prime Minister Han has worked as the highest-ranking member of the executive branch for 55 years, earning the public's trust. If someone who has received the greatest trust and authority from the Constitution and the people uses it to damage the constitutional order, they must bear a correspondingly heavy responsibility."

Han was separately indicted on charges of engaging in key duties related to the December 3rd Martial Law insurrection, for which he received a 15-year sentence in the appellate court, and is currently awaiting a Supreme Court decision.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.