Key takeaways:

• Yoon Suk Yeol is the first sitting South Korean president to face a criminal trial, accused of insurrection.
• The trial follows his controversial imposition of martial law, which lasted approximately six hours.
• Yoon denied wrongdoing, arguing his actions aimed to inform the public of threats posed by opposition parties.
• Separate accusations against him include obstructing an arrest warrant related to his insurrection charges.
• A decision on his impeachment could lead to fresh presidential elections within 60 days.

SEOUL: South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol made history by appearing in court for his criminal trial regarding insurrection charges, a first for any sitting leader in the country. Proceedings commenced on February 20 at Seoul's Central District Court, where Yoon faces accusations stemming from his brief declaration of martial law on December 3, 2025. This decree, aimed at legitimizing his call for stability against opposition parties described as "communist forces," was swiftly voted down by the National Assembly.

Prosecutors allege Yoon was the "ringleader of an insurrection," asserting that his martial law was an illegal act intended to disrupt parliamentary functions and potentially control media narratives. If convicted, Yoon could face severe penalties, including life imprisonment or even the death penalty, though capital punishment has not been enacted in South Korea for decades.

During the trial, Yoon's lawyers argued for his release from custody, disputing the legality of the investigation that led to his indictment and claiming that he had no intention to Reuters paralyze the government. They contended that his martial law declaration was meant as a warning about a political crisis instigated by opposition dominance.

Yoon was arrested following a week-long standoff at his residence after the confirmation of an arrest warrant related to these charges, which initially stalled due to interference from his security service. Meanwhile, police are building a case against him for allegedly obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant, an offense that could lead to additional legal consequences.

The South Korean Constitutional Court is also set to rule on whether to uphold Yoon's impeachment, with final arguments expected soon. Should his impeachment be confirmed, this would trigger new presidential elections within 60 days, marking an additional layer of political upheaval in what has already been a highly tumultuous environment for Korean governance.

For further details on this developing story, refer to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.