Seoul: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attended his insurrection trial Monday, marking his second appearance since last week after being absent from the proceedings for four months. The ousted president is facing charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his failed imposition of martial law in December last year.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon had not appeared at his trial since his arrest for a second time in July, citing health reasons, but began attending the trial last Thursday. Kwak Jong-keun, the former chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, is set to testify at Monday's hearing. Kwak has claimed he received orders from Yoon to forcefully remove lawmakers from the National Assembly during the brief period of martial law.

Yoon has defended his actions by arguing that deploying the military to the parliament building was necessary to maintain public order without suppressing civilians. He has reportedly decided to attend the trial to better exercise his right to defense as key witnesses testify in court.

In addition to this trial, Yoon attended the first hearing of another trial on martial law-related charges in September and a separate hearing concerning his request for bail. Yoon is also believed to have considered that a prolonged absence from the proceedings could adversely affect the trial's outcome.

The court had previously warned that Yoon would have to bear responsibility for his absence from the proceedings. However, Yoon's lawyers stated that he plans to attend the hearings selectively.