Seoul: Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended himself against insurrection charges during his first criminal trial on Monday, asserting that his brief imposition of martial law in December did not constitute an insurrection. Yoon, who arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in a black security vehicle and entered via the underground parking to avoid public exposure, appeared in court shortly before 10 a.m. in a navy suit. Photography and filming were prohibited as per a court order.
Yoon, a former top prosecutor, faces charges related to his actions on December 3, when he briefly imposed martial law and deployed troops to the National Assembly, allegedly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting against the decree. Following the incident, Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly, and his removal from office was confirmed by the Constitutional Court on April 4.
In his defense, Yoon argued that the charges were based on a limited incident lasting only a few hours, from 10:30 p.m. to around 2 or 3 a.m. He contended that the case went against legal principles, as the martial law was lifted immediately after the National Assembly demanded its removal, and there was no violence involved. "It goes against legal principles to build an insurrection case based on an indictment that looks like a printout of an incident that lasted only a few hours," Yoon stated.
However, the prosecution maintained that Yoon had intended to "start a riot" and subvert the Constitution, citing his views on state affairs and preparations leading up to the martial law declaration. Insurrection is a serious crime in South Korea, carrying penalties of life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Following his impeachment, Yoon moved out of the official presidential residence and returned to his private home, which is located just a 10-minute walk from the court. Two military officers involved in the martial law operations testified at the hearing, affirming that they were ordered by their superiors to enter the National Assembly and "drag out" lawmakers during the brief martial law period.
The court has scheduled the second hearing for next Monday, with plans to hold about three hearings every two weeks.
With IANS inputs