A former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection over his role in a short-lived martial law declaration has praised protesters who stormed a court over last month's decision to extend President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention.

Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, facing insurrection charges, testified that President Yoon Suk Yeol overruled broader military deployment during a martial law attempt. The Constitutional Court is reviewing whether Yoon's impeachment and martial law declaration were justified,

South Korean investigators asked prosecutors to indict detained President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law last month, which the country's ousted defence minister testified that he wanted a broader military deployment than Yoon.

A former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection for his role in a short-lived martial law attempt told a court on Thursday that he wanted a broader military deployment but was overruled by President Yoon Suk Yeol.