South Korea’s impeached president, Yoon, appeared before the Seoul Western District Court on Saturday to challenge a potential formal arrest following his declaration of martial law last month.

Yoon, detained on Wednesday during a large-scale operation at his residence, faces rebellion charges stemming from his controversial December 3 martial law declaration, which triggered South Korea’s most significant political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, leading the joint probe with police and military authorities, has requested Yoon’s formal arrest. A decision from the court is expected late Saturday or early Sunday.

Yoon arrived at the court from a detention center in Uiwang, escorted by a police motorcade. Supporters gathered outside the court, waving banners and chanting for his release under heavy police surveillance.

The 2 p.m. hearing will focus on whether Yoon’s detention is necessary while the investigation continues. If the court approves the arrest, investigators will have 20 days to hand the case over to prosecutors for indictment. If rejected, Yoon will be released and allowed to return home.

Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, confirmed that the president had opted to appear in person to contest the warrant, arguing that the martial law declaration was a legitimate use of presidential authority. Yoon’s defense plans to assert that rebellion charges lack merit and would not stand in either a criminal or Constitutional Court.

The martial law declaration has plunged South Korea into political turmoil. The Constitutional Court is simultaneously considering whether to remove Yoon from office permanently or reinstate him.

The hearing marks a pivotal moment in South Korea’s ongoing crisis, as the country awaits a resolution to a case that has captivated both domestic and international attention.