Former South Korean president refutes insurrection allegations at first trial hearing

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faced the court on April 14 for his first criminal trial concerning charges of insurrection. Yoon, who is accused of attempting to impose martial law in December 2023, defended his actions during the hearing, claiming that his brief imposition of martial law did not constitute an insurrection.

Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in a black security vehicle, entering via the underground parking lot to avoid public exposure. The hearing began shortly before 10 a.m., with Yoon seated in the defendant’s chair, dressed in a navy suit. A court order prohibited photography and filming by the press during the proceedings, Caliber.Az reports per Korean media.

The charges stem from Yoon's decision to impose martial law on December 3, 2023, which led to the deployment of troops around the National Assembly. The alleged purpose was to prevent lawmakers from voting down a decree he had issued. His actions were swiftly followed by impeachment proceedings in the National Assembly, and he was removed from office on April 4 after the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld his impeachment.

"The indictment simply lists the details of the investigation into what happened during the several hours between 10:30 p.m. December 3 and 2 to 3 a.m.," Yoon remarked following the prosecution's presentation of the charges.

"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 and was lifted immediately in a nonviolent manner upon accepting the National Assembly's demand to lift it," he added.

Despite Yoon's defence, the prosecution argued that his views on state affairs and his preparations leading up to the martial law declaration indicated an intent to "start a riot" in an effort to "subvert the Constitution."

Insurrection is a serious crime in South Korea, carrying a maximum penalty of life in prison or even the death penalty.

Since his ousting, Yoon has moved out of the official presidential residence in Seoul's Hannam-dong and returned to his private residence, located just a 10-minute walk from the court.

During the hearing, two military officers are scheduled to testify as witnesses.

By Vafa Guliyeva