A former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection over his role in a short-lived martial law declaration has praised protesters who stormed a court over last month's decision to extend President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention.

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been arrested and suspended from duties over his declaration of martial law, was in court again Tuesday for hearings that will decide whether to officially remove him from office.

Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol continued to protest on Tuesday near the Constitutional Court in Seoul. The protest took place as Yoon attended the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.

The charges are unprecedented for a South Korean president, and if convicted, Yoon Suk Yeol could face years in prison for his shock martial-law decree, which sought to ban political and parliamentary activity and control the media.

This photo, taken Feb. 4, 2025, shows the fifth hearing of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.