Briefly

SOUTH KOREA

Ex-president back in court for criminal trial

South Korea's former president Yoon Suk-yeol appeared in court on Monday for the second hearing of his criminal trial — to defend himself against insurrection charges over his short-lived declaration of martial law. Yoon was formally stripped of office earlier this month, after being impeached and suspended by lawmakers over his Dec 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, which saw armed soldiers deployed to parliament. He became South Korea's first sitting head of state to be arrested in connection with the criminal case against him in January. Yoon's court appearance on Monday was the first time the media was allowed to film the former president's criminal trial.