South Korea’s Yoon attends the first insurrection trial hearing

South Korea’s first criminal prosecution of an incumbent leader took place Thursday as impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in a Seoul court for his first trial hearing on rebellion charges.

Yoon was prosecuted by prosecutors last month on charges that he incited an uprising by imposing martial law for a brief period of time on December 3.

Yoon was transported from the Seoul Detention Center, where he is being held, to the court by a justice ministry motorcade. To provide security, lines of police buses were parked outside.

Prosecutors demanded quick action because of the seriousness of the case, but Yoon’s attorneys said they needed more time to go through the documents.

According to one of his attorneys, Yoon had “no intention to paralyze the country,” and his declaration of martial law was intended to inform the public about the “legislative dictatorship of the huge opposition party.”

Yoon, who stunned the nation with his martial law proclamation that attempted to control the media and outlaw political and parliamentary activity, might spend years behind bars if found guilty.

The action caused political turmoil in the fourth-largest economy in Asia and a major ally of the United States. The prime minister was also removed from office and impeached, and senior military officers were charged for their involvement.

Yoon’s attorneys also asked the court to lift his detention, arguing that there was no chance of Yoon attempting to destroy evidence and that the case had been illegally probed.

Although the court’s decision about the detention was not yet clear, a judge scheduled the criminal case’s next hearing for March 24.

On Thursday afternoon, following the criminal case, Yoon also went to the Constitutional Court’s simultaneous impeachment trial, which is now in its last stage.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was one of the witnesses who testified in court; he has also been impeached and is awaiting the court’s ruling on his future.

“I am deeply burdened by the despair that each and every one of our people felt due to such extreme politics that took place before, during and after emergency martial law,” stated Han.

“All procedures dealing with the emergency martial law must be carried out fairly and reasonably … so that there is no further spark of national division.”

The Constitutional Court is considering the impeachment of Yoon by parliament on December 14 and will determine whether to reinstate him or remove him from office permanently.

According to Yoon and his attorneys, he never wanted to fully enforce martial law and merely meant the measures as a threat to end a political impasse.

Within 60 days of Yoon’s removal, a new presidential election must be held.