South Korea has officially launched a criminal trial against former President Yoon Suk Yeol following his removal from office. Yoon faces charges of insurrection in connection with his imposition of martial law in late 2024, a move that sparked widespread protests and political instability.
In a court hearing on Monday, Yoon denied the accusations of attempting a coup, claiming that his brief declaration of martial law was not meant to destabilise the nation. He explained that the action was a response to political blockages by the opposition, who had impeached over 20 officials, including the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection.
Yoon, who was ousted earlier this month by the Constitutional Court for abusing his constitutional powers, is accused of lacking legal justification for the martial law declaration. Prosecutors argue that the decision crippled vital government institutions.
Dressed in a dark navy suit and red tie, Yoon appeared at the Seoul Central District Court and spent about 40 minutes in the morning session defending his actions. He stated that the martial law was intended to deliver a “peaceful message” to the public, adding that he expected the measure to last no more than a day.
While Yoon confirmed that he had notified former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun of his plans, he suggested that military officials might have expanded the scope of the order, possibly due to training procedures for different martial law scenarios.
