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

Allegations President Yoon Suk-yeol would impose martial law to avoid impeachment carry echoes of past political crackdowns

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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been at odds with the opposition since taking office in May 2022. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 8:00am, 4 Sep 2024

A political storm has erupted in South Korea after allegations from the opposition that President Yoon Suk-yeol would impose martial law, unheard of in the country since 1987.

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.

Since taking office in May 2022, Yoon has been at odds with the opposition, repeatedly using his veto power to block numerous parliamentary bills aimed at launching special investigations into allegations of corruption and power abuse involving him and his wife.

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.

Student protesters are arrested in Gwangju in 1980, during the period that martial law was last imposed in South Korea. Photo: Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

The office also noted that opposition lawmakers had insulted Yoon during a visit to parliament in October, refusing to shake his hand and staging a protest with placards.