South Korea’s Constitutional Court has unanimously removed Yoon Suk Yeol as president after he threw the nation into turmoil by declaring martial law and sending troops to parliament in an ill-fated effort to break through legislative gridlock.

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.

Seoul: Supporters and opponents of South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday gathered in front of the Seoul Central District Court in time for his arrival there to attend his first criminal trial related to his martial law declaration last year.