The Influence of January 6th on the South Korean Far-Right

Sunny Kim, Director, Korea Affairs - 3/18/25

Image Source: France24

After the Seoul Western District Court in South Korea decided to extend the detention of President Yoon, his supporters stormed into the courthouse and attacked riot police protecting the building. Supporters also stormed the South Korean National Human Rights Commission and the People's Republic of China embassy in Seoul. Captain Korea was among those arrested by the South Korean police. Captain Korea is a person who claimed on YouTube to be a former American soldier and current CIA black agent. He explained his job as stopping Chinese interference in Korean elections. Investigation shows, however, that he is a Korean citizen who has never been to the US and is not a CIA agent. It is easy to draw parallels from these events to the events of January 6th in the US. Both were cases of individuals storming a government building after believing the lies of an official leader. Additionally, many people involved posted their activity on social media as they believed that they were right and protecting their nation from a ‘deep state’ enemy. Another aspect is the rhetoric and appearance of many of the Korean supporters. There have been images of Korean supporters waving the American flag and wearing Make America Great Again hats or carrying Stop the Steal banners.

The Korean far-right believes South Korea is under deep state communist control and sees President Yoon and the US as counters to control by China and North Korea. That is why the Korean supporters of President Yoon wear and use the terminology of President Trump's far-right supporters. There is fake news going around in South Korea's far right that American troops stationed in South Korea arrested 99 Chinese nationals and sent them to US army bases in Japan and Guam. There are also rumors that the United States will send special forces to save Yoon or that Trump will pressure South Korea to release Yoon and let him finish his presidential term. These rumors frame the United States as the hero that would save South Korea from communism.

The events happening are important for the US due to South Korea being a key democratic ally in Asia. The US has made it clear that it supports South Korea while squashing down the fake news regarding Chinese arrests or American troops interfering in South Korean political affairs. However, President Yoon was released and if he is allowed to finish his term, there is a danger of South Korea returning to military dictatorship. The United States needs to monitor the far-right movement in South Korea and assist South Korean democracy to keep democratic values in East Asia.

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