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.

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.

Yoon sought to impose military rule on the country when he ordered the suspension of political activity and the censorship of media on December 3. The decree lasted just six hours as it was voted down