South Korea's constitutional court has begun trial proceedings for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended for declaring martial law and plunging his country into political turmoil.

The court has up to six months to decide whether to remove Yoon Suk Yeol from office or to reinstate him as president after his impeachment over an attempt to declare martial law.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol defended his martial law decree in fiery comments made ahead of a second impeachment attempt and growing investigations into whether his short-lived power grab amounted to a rebellion.