Seoul: The trial for People Power Party (PPP) Representative Choo Kyung-ho commenced on Wednesday, as he faces charges related to his alleged involvement in aiding former President Yoon Suk Yeol in the brief imposition of martial law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Choo, a member of the main opposition party, has been indicted for playing a pivotal role in an insurrection by altering the location of an emergency party meeting three times on the night of December 3, 2024. This change reportedly obstructed lawmakers' participation in a parliamentary vote intended to lift the martial law decree.

The Seoul Central District Court conducted the first preparatory hearing to gather the opinions of both the prosecution and the defendant, and to outline future proceedings. Although Choo was absent from the hearing, his presence was not mandatory.

Choo's legal team indicated their inability to present their position, citing that they were only recently granted access to the necessary documents. They requested time until at least the first week of February to fully review and analyze the records.

The special counsel team, responsible for investigating the case, also called for an additional preparatory hearing, emphasizing the need to expedite the trial given the high level of public interest. The court agreed to the request and scheduled the next hearing for February 9.

At the time of the martial law imposition, Choo served as the ruling party's floor leader. The special counsel team alleges that he changed the meeting venue three times between the National Assembly and party headquarters after Yoon requested his assistance in establishing martial law. This led to confusion, resulting in the absence of 90 out of 108 PPP lawmakers from the vote that eventually nullified the decree just hours after it was enacted.

The special counsel team, in its indictment, stated that Choo, as the floor leader, held significant responsibility for parliamentary operations and was in a unique position to challenge former President Yoon's decision to maintain martial law. Despite witnessing the violation of basic rights and the National Assembly's sovereignty being undermined by armed forces, Choo allegedly took no corrective action.

Previously, the special counsel team sought a court-issued warrant to arrest Choo, but the request was denied.