Seoul: South Korea's ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol issued a call from prison on Wednesday urging his supporters to rally for "freedom" and defending his decision to declare martial law a year ago.

On December 3, 2024, Yoon suspended civilian rule in South Korea for the first time in more than four decades, prompting massive protests and a showdown in parliament.

A year later, the country remains politically polarised as it faces a slowing economy and an ageing population, as well as the lingering threat from North Korea.

Thousands of people joined a rally on Wednesday near the National Assembly in Seoul, where one year ago lawmakers defied soldiers to vote down the martial law bid within hours of the announcement.

A march by supporters of the former leader drew several hundreds.

In a statement sent by his lawyers, Yoon called on followers to "rise again in defence of the Republic of Korea's freedom".

"This country belongs to you, the sovereign people," he said.

He also said his decision last year to declare martial law had been justified in the fight against "pro-China, pro-North Korea, and traitorous activities".

And he condemned successor Lee Jae Myung as presiding over an "unjust and corrupt dictatorship".

Yoon is on trial for insurrection and other offences linked to his martial law declaration, and could face the death penalty if found guilty.

Lee, who was swept into office six months after the disastrous martial law bid, issued his own statement to the country to mark the anniversary.

He said South Korea had "overcome an unprecedented crisis of democracy in world history through peaceful protest".

Speaking to foreign media, he touted the benefits of "K-democracy" in removing Yoon from office -- but admitted the country remained deeply divided.

"National unity is my priority," he said.

'Never again'

Thousands of anti-Yoon protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly, braving sub-zero temperatures.

President Lee had been expected to attend, but his office said he was forced to cancel over "security risks".

Demonstrators held signs reading "Root out the perpetrators of insurrection".

"I expect the death penalty for Yoon," Kim, a protester from Seoul, told AFP.

"For such a state of emergency to never occur again, he must be sentenced to death and permanently removed from our society," he added.

While the law allows for capital punishment, South Korea has had a moratorium on executions since 1997, meaning Yoon is unlikely to be put to death even if convicted.

Hundreds of Yoon supporters also gathered on Wednesday not far from the National Assembly, holding placards calling for the former president to be released and for Lee to be removed from office and put on trial.

Yoon's former People Power Party remains split over whether it should issue a formal apology for the martial law.

The party's floor leader Song Eon-seog apologised on Wednesday for failing to prevent the debacle.

He said lawmakers should "feel a heavy sense of responsibility for failing to prevent the declaration of martial law that caused such distress to the public".

In stark contrast, party leader Jang Dong-hyuk wrote on social media that martial law had served to "counter an act of parliamentary tyranny".

Languishing in prison

Much of the right continues to "share Yoon Suk Yeol's political stance and interests", political commentator Park Sang-byung told AFP.

"Doing so serves their grip on party power and their future political interests," said Park.

Yoon's legal troubles in the wake of the martial law declaration have also served to boost his image as a martyr among the far right.

Yoon has been accused of tacitly encouraging his more extreme supporters, issuing calls for them to take to the streets and vowing to stand with them "to the very end".

His wife is also in custody and on trial on charges including bribery, stock-market rigging, and accepting luxury gifts worth more than $50,000.

It is the first time in South Korea's history that a former president and first lady have both been arrested.

Two dozen of Yoon's cronies, including his former intelligence chief and interior minister, are on trial on insurrection charges.

All court hearings related to the martial law declaration are scheduled to end no later than February.

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