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 for the start of a criminal trial over charges that he led an insurrection.

SEOUL -- South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol attended his first criminal trial on Monday on insurrection charges.