South Korea's court held the first preparatory hearing of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol's criminal trial on Thursday, according to Xinhua.

Yoon presented himself at a courtroom of the Seoul Central District Court at about 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) for the first preparatory hearing of his criminal trial on insurrection charges.

The main disputes and evidence were clarified during the preparatory hearing which does not necessarily require the defendant's attendance. The second hearing was scheduled for March 24.

Afterward, the court began a review of Yoon's request to cancel his arrest and release him.

Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but it was repealed by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later.

The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14, 2024, and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which his presidency is suspended.