During the final hearing of Han's trial at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, the request was made, making him the first among dozens of defendants facing charges related to Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.
"As the second-highest official in the government, [Han] was the only person who could have prevented the debacle, yet he abandoned his constitutional duty to serve the country and was instead involved through his actions before and after martial law was declared," one prosecutor said.
"By imposing strict punishment, we must ensure that this dark chapter in our history never happens again," he added.
Prosecutors accused Han of not only attending a Cabinet meeting with several key officials just before Yoon declared martial law, but also of attempting to cover up some illegal measures by fabricating relevant documents. They also criticized Han's refusal to cooperate with investigators, citing his perjury, which they said harmed South Korea's democracy.
With the court scheduled to deliver its verdict on either Jan. 21 or 28 next year, Han is likely to become the first among those involved in the case to be sentenced.
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