South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has denied ordering the arrest of lawmakers during the impeachment trial

Deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has made his first appearance at his impeachment trial, where he denied ordering the arrest of lawmakers in an attempt to impose martial law.

Parliament voted to impeach Yoon last month, and last week the constitutional court started a trial to decide whether or not to permanently remove him from office.

Yoon also faces another criminal investigation into whether he led a riot. He has been detained since last week.

Security was tight on Tuesday as Yoon was transported by van from the detention center to the Constitutional Court.

Police set up human walls and riot barricades to keep the hundreds of supporters who had gathered around them from getting too close. Last weekend saw violence as dozens of Yoon’s supporters clashed with law enforcement joined another court.

On Tuesday, Yoon was asked whether he had ordered military commanders to “bring out” lawmakers the night the lawmaker declared martial law, lest they overturn his order.

He replied, “No.”

Military commanders earlier alleged that Yoon issued the order on December 3, after lawmakers scaled fences and broke through barricades to enter the parliament building and vote on Yoon’s declaration of martial law.

“I am a person who has lived with a firm belief in liberal democracy,” Yoon said in his opening remarks on Tuesday.

“Since the constitutional court is there to protect the constitution, I request you to look carefully at all aspects of this case,” he told the judges.

During the hearing, which lasted nearly two hours, Yoon and his lawyers argued that the martial law order was “a piece of paper that was not intended to be executed.”

Yoon cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea when he declared martial law, but it soon became clear that his move was motivated not by external threats but by his own internal political problems.

Lawyers prosecuting the case selected by parliament accused Yoon and his lawyers of making “largely contradictory, irrational and unclear” comments.

“If they continue to avoid responsibility as they did today, it will only work against them in the impeachment trial and cause even more public disappointment,” prosecutors told reporters after the hearing.

Outside court, his supporters became agitated and more aggressive as they demanded Yoon’s immediate release and reinstatement.

They were forced to stand a distance from the court due to tight security. Waving a trademark combination of Korean and US flags, some wore Maga-style baseball caps emblazoned with the slogan “Make Korea Free Again,” an echo of the campaign slogan used by US President Donald Trump.

Their chants included calls to execute Lee Jae Myung, the leader of South Korea’s main opposition party, and the investigator leading Yoon’s criminal case.

Several supporters told the BBC they believed Yoon’s declaration of martial law was an attempt to protect the country’s democracy.

The opposition party was accused of being pro-China and pro-North Korea and wanting to turn South Korea into a communist country.

“It’s a conflict between people who seek communism and people who seek democracy,” said Wongeun Seong, 49, a businessman who joined the protest on his way back from a lunch meeting.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyunHe who suggested martial law to Yoon, will testify at the next hearing on Thursday.

Yoon will be removed from office if at least six of the eight members of the constitutional court vote to uphold the impeachment. Presidential elections must then be called within 60 days.

South Korea has been in political chaos since December 3rd. Thousands of Yoon’s protesters and supporters have taken to the streets several times despite the winter cold.

The crisis has hit the country’s economy, weakening earnings and global credit rating agencies warning of weakening consumer and business sentiment.

Additional reporting by Hosu Lee in Seoul