Yoon attends hearing of impeachment trial President Yoon Suk Yeol (front) enters the fourth hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Jan. 23, 2025, over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in a Seoul court for his impeachment trial Tuesday, defending his short-lived martial law bid and denying charges that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers away.

South Korea looks set for a dramatic political showdown this week as impeachment proceedings kick off against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who remains holed up in his fortified residence evading arrest for a separate criminal investigation.

The president and his legal team denied allegations that he had sought to target lawmakers during his brief declaration of martial law in December.

South Korea’s impeached president has denied that he ordered the military to drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly to prevent them from voting to reject his martial law decree last month, as he appeared for the first time before the Constitutional Court that will determine his fate.

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol showed up for his impeachment trial for the first time today, striking a defiant tone as the court grilled him over his failed martial law bid. The Constitutional Court must complete all hearings and issue a sentence within 180 days.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended on Tuesday a Constitutional Court hearing of his impeachment trial where he denied ordering military commanders to drag lawmakers out of parliament during his short-lived bid to impose martial law.

President Yoon Suk Yeol will appear before the Constitutional Court for his impeachment trial hearing this week for the second time, an official at Yoon's legal team said Wednesday. Yoon is scheduled to attend the hearing at the Constitutional Court on Thursday,