South Korea’s ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol has insisted his brief declaration of martial law late last year was not an attempted coup, as he appeared in court on Monday to face charges of leading an insurrection. The criminal trial, which has captured national and international attention, marks a pivotal moment following Yoon’s impeachment and removal from office by the Constitutional Court earlier this month.
The declaration of martial law, which lasted approximately six hours before being rescinded in response to fierce opposition from parliament and widespread public protest, triggered a period of significant political unrest. It ultimately culminated in the Constitutional Court’s ruling that Yoon had violated the limits of his constitutional authority.
Arriving at the Seoul Central District Court in a dark navy suit and red tie, Yoon maintained his innocence, denying all charges. Prosecutors opened their case by asserting that Yoon had no legal basis for imposing martial law and accused him of attempting to disable the functions of democratic institutions.
“The defendant … made it impossible for constitutional institutions to exercise their authority based on an unlawful declaration,” prosecutors argued in court.
Yoon, formerly South Korea’s chief prosecutor before assuming the presidency, delivered a lengthy defence in court, firmly rejecting the prosecution’s narrative.
“Martial law is not a coup d’etat,” Yoon stated.
He further argued that he did not cripple the government and claimed the martial law was a strategic move intended to raise awareness about what he called the obstructionist behaviour of the opposition party, which had pushed for the impeachment of more than 20 officials.
“This was a peaceful ‘message martial law’ to the nation… I knew this martial law would end within half-a-day, a day,” he explained.
Yoon added that while he had communicated his intentions to former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, military personnel may have exceeded their brief due to previous training under stricter martial law protocols.
The martial law order, which aimed to eradicate so-called “anti-state” forces, was ultimately thwarted when parliamentary staff resisted an attempted entry by special forces using makeshift defences including barricades and fire extinguishers. Parliament swiftly moved to reject the order.
Yoon now faces charges of orchestrating an insurrection, a crime that carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though South Korea has not carried out an execution in decades.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Yoon has maintained a defiant stance, vowing continued support for his political base. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party criticised him on Monday for showing no genuine remorse, calling his stance delusional.
As the country prepares for a snap presidential election scheduled for 3 June, speculation is mounting over whether Yoon could still influence the political landscape. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition and current frontrunner in the polls, visited a start-up developing artificial intelligence chips on Monday and pledged to promote the AI sector with bold regulatory reform and investment.
He further argued that he did not cripple the government and claimed the martial law was a strategic move intended to raise awareness about what he called the obstructionist behaviour of the opposition party, which had pushed for the impeachment of more than 20 officials.
“This was a peaceful ‘message martial law’ to the nation… I knew this martial law would end within half-a-day, a day,” he explained.
Yoon added that while he had communicated his intentions to former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, military personnel may have exceeded their brief due to previous training under stricter martial law protocols.
The martial law order, which aimed to eradicate so-called “anti-state” forces, was ultimately thwarted when parliamentary staff resisted an attempted entry by special forces using makeshift defences including barricades and fire extinguishers. Parliament swiftly moved to reject the order.
Yoon now faces charges of orchestrating an insurrection, a crime that carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though South Korea has not carried out an execution in decades.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Yoon has maintained a defiant stance, vowing continued support for his political base. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party criticised him on Monday for showing no genuine remorse, calling his stance delusional.
As the country prepares for a snap presidential election scheduled for 3 June, speculation is mounting over whether Yoon could still influence the political landscape. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition and current frontrunner in the polls, visited a start-up developing artificial intelligence chips on Monday and pledged to promote the AI sector with bold regulatory reform and investment.