South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denied wrongdoing as he branded himself as a firm believer in democracy in his first appearance at an impeachment trial looking into his shocking and brief imposition of martial law last month.

Yoon arrived at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Tuesday in a convoy, escorted by his security team, to attend the third hearing. Police blocked nearly every alley leading to the courthouse to ensure protesters remained dozens of meters away following the Capitol Hill-like rioting that took place in Seoul at the weekend.

“Since I grew up, I have lived with a firm belief in free democracy, especially during my tenure in public life,” Yoon said as the hearing began. “As this is an organization that exists to protect the Constitution, I hope the justices will take good care of it.”

During the brief imposition of martial law in early December, Yoon banned all political activities. Lawmakers defied the order and overturned the decree at the National Assembly within hours of its declaration, then impeached him less than two weeks later.

Clad in a navy suit with a red tie, Yoon engaged with his legal team throughout the hearing that lasted less than two hours as he at times stopped his lawyer to speak himself in defense of his actions and against the push to remove him from office.

Yoon disputed testimonies made by his military commanders that he ordered troops to remove lawmakers gathered at the parliament to vote on scrapping the martial law. He also denied he gave a memo to his Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, now serving as the country’s acting leader, ordering a budget plan to establish an emergency legislative body.

“I did not deliver such a thing. I only learned of it through media reports long after lifting the martial law,” Yoon said, referring to the memo.

The court now has six months to decide whether to permanently remove Yoon from office. If the trial lasts around the same time as the previous impeachment of Park Geun-hye, the decision should come in the first half of March.

To keep the peace outside the courthouse, police deployed some 4,000 officers, Yonhap News said. Around a hundred of Yoon’s supporters turned violent and stormed the Seoul Western District Court after the president’s appearance there on Saturday, entering the rooms of judges and smashing fittings and fixture before around 40 of them were arrested. The court estimated the damage caused at up to 700 million won ($486,000).

Yoon was arrested last week after repeatedly defying investigators’ summons for questioning in a separate criminal probe. The investigators are still struggling to get answers from the president as he refuses to sit down with them.

The president has taken issue with the validity of the probe launched by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and said the martial law declaration was within his constitutional powers.

If convicted of insurrection, Yoon could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. There is also the remote possibility of the death penalty.

The impeachment case is being reviewed by eight judges. Under South Korea’s constitution, at least six justices must approve Yoon’s removal from office. That outcome would trigger a presidential election within 60 days.

“I myself as the president know the most about this case,” Yoon said. “I will speak if necessary or if you have any questions.”

Yoon is South Korea’s first president to appear at an impeachment hearing. His predecessors Park and Roh Moo-hyun didn’t appear at their hearings.

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