SEOUL
\nThe legal team for South Korea\u2019s impeached president argued on Thursday that Yoon Suk Yeol did not commit insurrection during his dramatic imposition of martial law this month.
\nYoon was stripped of his duties by parliament in an impeachment vote at the weekend after his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, which plunged South Korea into its worst political turmoil in decades.
\nThe Constitutional Court began proceedings against Yoon on Monday and has about six months to decide whether to uphold his impeachment.
\nYoon is also being investigated by a joint team of police, defence ministry and anti-corruption investigators.
\n\u201cWhere in the world does a leader declare an insurrection during a live press conference?\u201d Seok Dong-hyeon, a spokesman for Yoon\u2019s legal team, told a media briefing in Seoul.
\nYoon made his martial law declaration in a live television announcement, although it was voted down by lawmakers several hours later.
\n\u201cWhere can you find an insurrection that ends within two or three hours because the National Assembly told them to stop martial law?\u201d said Seok.
\nSouth Korean lawmakers forced their way into parliament through lines of soldiers to vote down Yoon\u2019s martial law declaration.
\nVast protests against the ousted leader, with smaller rallies supporting him, have since rocked the South Korean capital.
\nYoon and some of his inner circle face possible life imprisonment, or even the death penalty, if found guilty. He remains under a travel ban.
\nSeok said Yoon remained \u201cclear and confident\u201d about fighting his case in court.
\nYoon failed to appear before South Korea\u2019s corruption watchdog on Wednesday after being summoned for questioning, the Corruption Investigation Office said.
\nThe Constitutional Court also ordered Yoon on Wednesday to submit his martial law decree, as well as records of cabinet meetings he held immediately before and after the announcement.
\nIt has set a preliminary hearing for December 27, although Yoon is not required to attend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SEOUL The legal team for South Korea\u2019s impeached president argued on Thursday that Yoon Suk Yeol did not commit insurrection during his dramatic imposition of martial law this month. Yoon was stripped of his duties by parliament in an impeachment vote at the weekend after his short-lived declaration of martial law on December 3, which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":450548,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-450527","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n