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.

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

South Korea's opposition said on Thursday it had filed an impeachment motion against acting leader Han Duck-soo, in an escalating row over the composition of the Constitutional Court that would decide whether to remove his predecessor from office.

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.”

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

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 liberal opposition party said Tuesday it will seek to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo, as Seoul grapples with the turmoil set off when impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol made a short-lived declaration of martial law.

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By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's Constitutional Court will hold its first hearing on Friday in the case of President Yoon Suk Yeol, after parliament impeached him over his short-lived martial law decree on Dec.