Seoul: An appeals court conducted the initial preliminary hearing for former President Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection trial concerning his unsuccessful 2024 martial law attempt, following a life imprisonment sentence by a lower court. The hearing took place at the Seoul High Court after both Yoon and a special counsel team appealed the February verdict, which found the former president guilty of leading an insurrection through his martial law declaration on December 3, 2024.

According to Yonhap News Agency, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team initially sought the death penalty for Yoon at the lower court, accusing him of using the decree to instigate a riot with the intention of undermining the constitutional order. Yoon's martial law attempt was thwarted after the National Assembly rejected his decree, leading to his impeachment and removal from office.

In the preliminary hearing, which did not require the presence of defendants and focused on scheduling future proceedings, Yoon, currently in custody, was not in attendance. Other defendants include former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who received a 30-year sentence for his alleged role in the insurrection, along with six former senior military and police officials.

Kim's legal team requested the court to seek the Constitutional Court's opinion on the legality of the bench presiding over the trial. If the request is denied, they intend to directly petition the Constitutional Court for a case review. The trial is overseen by a newly formed tribunal specializing in insurrection charges.

The appellate court announced plans to hold the next preliminary hearing on May 7, prior to commencing formal trial hearings.