Overview

• Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Monday for the first hearing of his criminal trial, where he faces charges of insurrection related to his December 2024 martial law declaration.
• Prosecutors allege Yoon disrupted constitutional order by deploying military forces to key institutions, while Yoon defends the declaration as a symbolic act to protect democracy.
• Two senior military officers testified that they were instructed to forcibly remove lawmakers from parliament during the martial law order, a claim Yoon denies issuing.
• The trial is expected to be lengthy, involving extensive evidence and witness testimonies, with a verdict anticipated around August; potential penalties include life imprisonment or the death penalty.
• The case unfolds as South Korea prepares for a snap presidential election on June 3, highlighting deep political divisions in the nation.