The lawyers for a former South Korean defence minister under investigation on insurrection charges said on Thursday a short-lived martial law decree imposed earlier this month was to raise alarm on opposition parties' abuse of the democratic process.

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol again declined to appear for questioning by investigators over his martial law declaration as the embattled leader seeks to first defend himself at an impeachment trial.

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol did not respond on Wednesday to a second summons by anti-corruption authorities who, along with prosecutors, are investigating his short-lived martial law decree issued early this month.

South Korean police have questioned Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo as part of an investigation into the short-lived decision this month to impose martial law, an official at his office said on Friday.

South Korea's Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo has been questioned by the police regarding the controversial decision to impose martial law. This investigation follows the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol,

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol resisted investigators' calls on Monday for him to answer questions over his failed bid to declare martial law this month.

South Korea's main opposition party said it will introduce a bill to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday and hold a vote on Friday, a move that could deepen the country's constitutional crisis triggered by a short-lived martial law.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who became South Korea's acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, is a career technocrat whose wide-ranging experience and reputation for rationality may not be enough to stem the country's deepening political crisis.

South Korea’s main opposition party has submitted a motion to impeach the country’s acting leader over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of rebell

The country’s opposition has accused acting president Han Duck-soo of obstructing justice and aiding the failed martial law bid.

Last month, amid a series of mounting economic and political crises, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a martial law decree—the first in more than 40 years. Yoon claimed that it was necessary to “eradicate anti-state forces” and “protect constitutional order.”