South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a string of legal battles as the suspended leader fights to save his political career – and avoid prison – following his brief imposition of martial law last year.

President Yoon Suk Yeol insisted his Dec. 3 martial law declaration was intended to alert the public about the “all-powerful” Democratic Party, and not to suppress democracy, during his final argument at the 11th hearing of his impeachment trial.

Yoon Suk Yeol ‘ranted’ about imposing martial law over drinks with lawmakers, former ruling party leader says - Han Dong Hoo claims in new memoir he and party colleagues feared they would be arrested

In a final statement at his impeachment trial, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his martial law decree that plunged the country into chaos as a bid to inform the public of the danger of the opposition-controlled parliament as he vowed to push for political reform if reinstated.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol contested his arrest on rebellion charges in one court and pleaded to preserve his presidency in the other, both cases related to his brief imposition of martial law.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gave a closing statement at his impeachment trial on Tuesday, apologizing to citizens for his short-lived declaration of martial law but defending the move.

Former South Korean leader Moon Jae-in hailed the arrest of his successor President Yoon Suk Yeol but an image appearing to show Moon celebrating the event is manipulated. The original picture predates Yoon's short-lived martial law that plunged the country into turmoil -- and shows Moon after his election victory in May 2017.

After Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached for his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, false claims of support from the United States for the ousted South Korean leader have circulated on social media.

Mr Yoon has denied any wrongdoing and blamed the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda, impeached senior officials and slashed key parts of the government’s budget bill.

Han Dong Hoo quit as leader of the conservative People Power Party after Mr Yoon shocked the country by imposing martial law on 3 December. Mr Han released his memoir, titled The People First ...

"Yoon Suk Yeol is still refusing to have self-reflection and soul-searching and repeating sophistry and crafty remarks that say his emergency martial law was a high-level act of governance," Mr ...

At the final hearing of his impeachment trial Tuesday, South Korea’s detained President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his Dec. 3 short-lived martial law, insisting that its “purpose has been largely achieved.