The former President of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, attended the first trial on the 14th for allegedly leading a treason charge, where he personally denied the prosecution's accusations.
The case was heard at the Seoul Central District Court on the same day, with both the prosecution and Yoon Suk-yeol's side presenting their respective positions through opening statements. Yoon Suk-yeol personally refuted the prosecution's accusations, arguing that the emergency martial law was lifted just a few hours later, making the prosecution's qualification of it as treason legally unfounded.
In presenting their case, the prosecution pointed out that the defendant intended to disrupt the constitutional order by deciding to initiate a rebellion. They stated that declaring martial law with the aim of obstructing constitutional institutions from exercising their powers and causing the constitutional system to lose its function is the reason for the treason charges, in accordance with Article 87 of South Korea’s Criminal Code, thus filing a lawsuit against Yoon Suk-yeol.