South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in court for a hearing where his lawyers are contesting his arrest on a criminal charge alleging he was orchestrating a rebellion when he imposed martial law.

Yoon Suk Yeol was contesting his arrest on rebellion charges in one and fighting an effort to remove him from office in the other.

With Yoon in attendance as hearings opened Thursday, the courtroom was packed and there was heavy security around the building. The 64-year-old former prosecutor has been behind bars since he was arrested last month on charges of insurrection,