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.

A motorcade carrying South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves for Seoul Detention Center at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) following his arrest, in Gwacheon, South Korea, January 15, 2025. Yonhap via REUTERS

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan is monitoring developments in South Korea with "particular and grave" concerns, the top government spokesman said Wednesday, following the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law in December.

By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -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.

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol refused on Monday to be questioned by investigators under a probe into whether he committed insurrection, as dozens of his supporters faced arrest over a violent rampage on a court building.

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.

Yoon Suk Yeol has made his first appearance at an impeachment trial which will decide if he should be permanently removed.