Seoul: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol defended himself during his first criminal trial on insurrection charges, asserting that his attempt to impose martial law in December did not constitute an insurrection.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in a black security vehicle, entering through the underground parking area to avoid public exposure. The first hearing commenced shortly before 10 a.m., with Yoon, dressed in a navy suit, seated in the defendant's seat. The court had prohibited photography and filming by the press.

Yoon, a former top prosecutor, faces allegations of leading an insurrection following his brief imposition of martial law on December 3, which involved the deployment of troops to the National Assembly in an alleged effort to prevent lawmakers from voting against the decree. He was subsequently impeached by the National Assembly and removed from office on April 4 after the Constitutional Court 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 stated after the prosecution presented a summary of its charges. He argued it was against legal principles to build an insurrection case based on an incident that lasted only a few hours and was lifted in a nonviolent manner at the National Assembly's demand.

The prosecution, however, maintained that Yoon's views on state affairs and preparations leading up to the martial law declaration indicated an intended "riot" to "subvert the Constitution." Insurrection is a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death.

Since his removal from office, Yoon has moved out of the official presidential residence in Seoul's Hannam-dong and returned to his private residence, which is a short walk from the court. During the hearing, two military officers who were involved in the martial law operations testified that they received orders from their superiors to "drag out" lawmakers from the National Assembly during the martial law period.

The court has scheduled the second hearing for next Monday and announced plans to hold around three hearings every two weeks.