S. Korea's Yoon skips Parliament opening as tensions mount

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol skipped the ceremony marking the opening of Parliament on Sept 2, the nation's first leader to do so in more than three decades, in a sign of the bipartisan strife that is casting a shadow over the government's prospects for achieving key policy initiatives.

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Mr Yoon decided to skip the event that began at 2pm (1pm Singapore time), citing the opposition's "unilateral actions" to push for special counsel and impeachment procedures, South Korea's Yonhap News reported, adding that it was the first such instance since 1987.

An official at the presidential office confirmed the report.

Mr Yoon's absence signals more headwinds to come as his administration pushes for a number of pro-business policies.