SEOUL — In a major victory for aspiring autocrats, an appeals court has formally reduced a former prime minister's prison sentence for abetting a 2024 "self-coup" from 23 years to 15, confirming that the overthrow of democratic institutions is highly negotiable for upper management.

The eight-year judicial discount was granted despite special prosecutors explicitly requesting the original sentence be upheld, pointing out to the bench that the former official had shown absolutely no remorse for his role in mobilizing the military and police against the public.

"We felt 23 years was simply too harsh a penalty for a momentary lapse in constitutional democracy," said a court official, clarifying that 15 years is the standard industry rate for failing to prevent an insurrection. "The defendant has consistently shown no remorse, which we respect as a steadfast commitment to his original vision."

The sudden burst of judicial leniency arrives at a highly convenient time for the former President, who personally orchestrated the December 2024 martial law declaration and is currently awaiting his own final verdict. While special prosecutors have requested the death penalty for the former head of state's insurrection charges, legal observers now predict the punishment will be negotiated down to a stern warning and perhaps a brief suspension of privileges.

"The justice system must balance the severity of the crime with the fact that these are very important people," the official added. "If we handed out maximum sentences every time an executive branch deployed the military to crush parliament, we'd set a terrible precedent for future administrations."