South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol has appeared for the first time at his criminal trial on high-stakes rebellion charges

South Korea's ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol argued that his brief martial law declaration late last year was "not a coup d’etat" as he appeared in court on Monday.

Impeached South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol is due to attend the first hearing on Monday of his criminal trial to face charges that he led an insurrection when he declared martial law late last year and plunged the country into months of turmoil.