In South Korea, claims of impending martial law inflame political ‘war of attrition’

The liberal opposition parties controlling the National Assembly accused the unpopular conservative president earlier this week of gearing up to use martial law to avoid being impeached for alleged abuse of power.

Tensions between Yoon and the National Assembly reached a new peak on Monday when Yoon became the first president since 1987 – when the country faced widespread pro-democracy protests – to skip the opening ceremony of a parliament with a new four-year mandate.

His presidential office cited the opposition’s continued efforts to initiate special investigations and open a series of parliamentary hearings, which could potentially lead to Yoon’s impeachment over allegations of abuse of power.