South Korea's ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol argued that his brief martial law declaration late last year was "not a coup d’etat" as he appeared in court on Monday.

The BBC has spoken to people close to the president to understand what drove him to trigger an authoritarian takeover.

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol greets supporters in front of the Seoul Central District Court on Monday before hearing the indictment against him. He is currently charged with insurrection for his 18-day declaration of martial law last December.