In the cold of January, as biting winds sweep through the streets, a crowd gathers outside the home of President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, South Korea. People huddle together, wrapped in thick coats, waving U.S. flags, clutching signs that shout the slogan “Stop the Steal,” and sporting red hats resembling the iconic MAGA caps. But this isn’t Washington, D.C. or any part of the U.S. — it's a scene 7,000 miles away from the heart of American politics, in the South Korean capital.
These passionate supporters, many of whom are conservative backers of President Yoon, have rallied to defend the embattled leader from possible arrest. Yoon, known for his staunch conservatism and pro-American stance, managed to stave off an attempt by South Korean authorities to detain him after an intense, hours-long standoff. This followed his controversial declaration of martial law in December, a move that plunged South Korea into political turmoil and left the nation reeling.
While South Korean lawmakers voted last month to impeach Yoon, some from within his own conservative People Power Party, he remains in office. However, his authority has been significantly weakened, with little power left in his hands. His fate now lies in the hands of South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which is expected to decide whether he will be formally removed from office or reinstated in the spring of 2025.
But even as the court prepares to rule, a corruption investigation continues to press forward, with investigators pursuing an arrest warrant for Yoon on charges of insurrection and abuse of power. The implications of such a charge are enormous — no sitting South Korean president has ever faced criminal prosecution. And Yoon, a former prosecutor himself, is determined to fight to the bitter end.
Yoon’s supporters, standing firm outside his home, have made their voices heard. They chant familiar slogans like “Stop the steal!” — a phrase that many might associate with former U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters’ claims about election fraud in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. It seems that, in a twist of political irony, these South Korean conservatives are adopting the same iconography and rhetoric used in American politics to defend their president, whom they view as a leader under attack by what they perceive as a corrupt political system.
While “Stop the steal!” is a phrase that originates from the U.S., it has gained traction in South Korea as Yoon’s supporters draw comparisons between their political crisis and the drama surrounding President Trump. Both leaders, each with their own set of challenges, have become rallying points for conservative movements. Yoon’s backers claim that the April 2024 national election was stolen from them — a claim that has not been substantiated, but one that fuels their fervent resistance.
One rally attendee, a Yoon supporter, told CNN, “I’m here for democracy. The election was rigged, and we need to defend our country.” This sentiment reflects the deep political divide within South Korea, with Yoon’s followers convinced of widespread corruption and fraud, despite the lack of evidence to back their claims. Yoon himself, in a speech declaring martial law, suggested that the opposition’s actions were tantamount to “anti-state behavior” aimed at inciting rebellion, pointing to threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces. His fiery rhetoric, resembling that of Trump, calls on supporters to protect the country from a so-called “enemy from within.”
South Korea’s political landscape has been rocked by the martial law declaration, which, like Trump’s election fraud claims, has become a source of intense debate. While Yoon insists that he was justified in his actions, including sending troops to investigate alleged election fraud, there is little to no evidence to support his claims. The National Election Commission of South Korea has firmly stated that there was no interference in the election system, dismissing the allegations as baseless.
Despite the official dismissal, many of Yoon’s supporters are unwavering in their belief that he is being unfairly removed from power because of his investigation into alleged election fraud. For them, the parallels with the U.S. political scene are hard to ignore. In both cases, a leader who has lost political power is framed as a victim of an unjust system — and both are surrounded by a fervent group of supporters convinced that their leaders are the true defenders of democracy.
The comparison to Trump’s loss of the 2020 election is tempting, yet experts caution that it is an oversimplification of South Korea’s political crisis. Hans Schattle, a professor of political science at Yonsei University in Seoul, points out that while Yoon’s supporters may see their leader’s predicament as akin to Trump’s, the reality is that Yoon acted outside the bounds of South Korea’s constitution when he declared martial law. As Schattle explains, the use of “Stop the steal” imagery by Yoon’s followers is unsettling, as it undermines the legal framework and the democratic processes in the country.
That said, there is no denying that the political right in South Korea has long had strong ties to the United States. The U.S. has been a critical ally to South Korea, especially since the Korean War in the 1950s, and this alliance remains a cornerstone of conservative politics in the country. The influence of evangelical Christian movements in South Korea also plays a significant role in this political dynamic, with many conservatives seeing the U.S. as a beacon of freedom, democracy, and anti-communism.
At Yoon’s rallies, U.S. flags are often seen alongside the South Korean Taegeukgi, the national flag, as a symbol of the shared values between the two countries. Additionally, red hats inspired by the “Make America Great Again” movement are sold for about $5.50, with “against the unlawful impeachment” embroidered in white Korean letters. This is a clear nod to American conservatism and an attempt to align South Korea’s political struggles with those of the U.S.
Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, a prominent figure in South Korea’s evangelical Christian right, has been a vocal supporter of Yoon. Speaking at rallies, he has argued that Yoon’s declaration of martial law was necessary to prevent the country from falling into the hands of North Korea. Christianity in South Korea has deep roots, with many South Korean Christians holding anti-communist views and a strong pro-American stance. This ideology has helped fuel the rallying cries of Yoon’s conservative supporters.
Yet, not all South Koreans are behind Yoon. Many view his actions as dangerous and unconstitutional. Political scientists, such as Schattle, argue that Yoon’s foreign policy, which has aimed to strengthen ties with both the U.S. and Japan, has been controversial. Despite this, Yoon’s supporters remain undeterred, and many hope that a future American president — specifically Donald Trump — will come to Yoon’s defense.
One supporter of Yoon, 71-year-old Pyeong In-su, told Reuters, “I hope that Trump will take office soon and raise his voice against the rigged elections in our country plus around the world so as to help President Yoon return to power swiftly.” This sentiment underscores the continued connection between the American conservative movement and South Korea’s right-wing politics.
As the political drama unfolds in South Korea, one thing is certain: the country’s political divide mirrors that of the U.S. in many ways. Whether or not Yoon is able to maintain his presidency will depend on the decisions of South Korea’s Constitutional Court. But for now, his supporters continue to hold strong, using familiar slogans and symbols to defend their embattled leader.
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