Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s since-impeached president, had been planning for months to impose martial law and target political opponents, according to accounts.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt announcement of martial law shocked the world in December. The ensuing political crisis attracted our readers' eyes, as Yoon eventually faced impeachment. (Photo by Korean Presidential Office/Kyodo)

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.