Analysis: South Korea and political extremism
South Korea is a stable democracy with a well-developed political framework but political extremism is growing.
Event or Trend. Political polarization and the influence of the far-right and far-left on political discourse has increased with policy positions once considered extreme, now moving into mainstream debate.
Significance. Understanding political polarization in South Korea is crucial for both policymakers and stakeholders in regional security. South Korea is a stable democracy with a well-developed political framework. The increased use digital platforms has amplified polarization, increased the acceptance of political extremism, and allowed extreme views to enter mainstream debate. This presents a risk to societal cohesion and stability, and increases the risk of external influence operations. Understanding these dynamics is vital for anticipating shifts in South Korean politics and its impact on foreign policy.
Analysis: South Korea's political landscape has always included a spectrum of extremist groups, divided primarily between far-right and far-left factions. These factions are more complex and fluid compared to those in Western democracies.
Extremist groups (like political parties) in South Korea are nebulous. This means (a) although broadly divided between leftist and rightist groups, their influence focuses on single events or debates rather than broad ideological agendas; (b) although including similar core memberships and even similar leadership, the entities transform in name, agenda, and constituency as issues arise; and (c) although street protests and media attention remain the ultimate tool for influence, online social networks and associated cyber acts (bullying, doxing, etc) are increasingly used as a platform to prepare and undertake political acts.
Far-right activism takes place on YouTube, Kakao Talk, Ilbe, and several well-known Naver Blogs. Extremist political groups on the right form as off-shoots from three broad sources:
Taegukgi Troops. One of the most visible far-right movement in South Korea, these individuals are often referred to as “Taegukgi protesters” due to their use of the South Korean flag (Taegukgi) during demonstrations. They tend to consist of older, conservative citizens, including veterans, who are staunchly anti-communist and highly nationalistic.
New Right Movement. This is a conservative movement that includes various right-wing intellectuals and activists. Although it operates under the guise of promoting economic and political reform, its ties to far-right nationalism and historical revisionism set it apart as a significant contributor to political extremism.
Christian Far-Right. South Korea’s far-right is also significantly influenced by conservative Christian groups that often blend religious fundamentalism with political ideology. These groups are particularly vocal against progressive social policies, LGBTQ+ rights, and North Korea engagement strategies.
The New Right Movement is the most active online, and makes a strong contribution to narratives that steer each movement and was central in efforts to steer narratives on Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War to emphasize anti-communism and downplay issues like the “comfort women” controversy. Each movement is broadly opposed to engagement or dialogue with North Korea, viewing it as a threat to be met with military strength and economic sanctions.
Far-left activism is primarily active on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and the DC Inside community platform. Extremist political groups on the left form as off-shoots from two broad sources:
Progressive Student Unions. Nowhere near as dominant as they were during the pro-democracy movements of the 1980s, radical student groups still exist, advocating for socialist ideals, reunification with North Korea under the North’s terms, and anti-U.S. military sentiment. Historically, far-left activists have deep connections with labor unions, advocating for workers’ rights and pushing for more radical economic reforms, often in opposition to the market-friendly policies of the government. Changes in economic well-being and employment prospects have decreased support for student union action.
Reunification Activists. Although steadily decreasing in size, far-left factions that call for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula and reunification with North Korea still play a significant role in political extremism because of the potential of external support and potential for disruptive action. Unlike mainstream reunification efforts that focus on peaceful and democratic principles, far-left groups promote reunification under socialist principles, aligning closely with North Korean ideologies.
Historically, the target of far-left political action was the presence of U.S. military bases in South Korea. Activists framed U.S. military bases as symbols of American imperialism and a hindrance to Korean sovereignty. The relocation of the majority of United States Forces Korea (USFK) outside of Seoul, and the perceived increased belligerence of North Korea and China within the region has significantly reduced the attractiveness of this narrative.
South Korea’s political landscape has seen a growing divide between progressives and conservatives, with extremist factions on both sides amplifying this polarization. These groups capitalize on contentious issues like North Korea, Japan, China, the U.S, nuclear weapons, economic inequality, and historical disputes to galvanize their base.
Digital extremism. The rise of digital platforms has given these extremist groups new tools for recruitment and to spread extreme political views.
Online platforms are crucial in allowing extremist groups in South Korea to bypass traditional media, engage directly with their audience, and amplify their messages across a broad digital landscape. Algorithms that prioritize sensational content contribute to the spread of polarizing narratives, enabling these groups to mobilize supporters quickly in response to political developments. The online echo chambers formed by these networks not only reinforce extreme views but also create a sense of legitimacy for radical positions, making them appear more mainstream.
Online platforms have also led to more traditional offline political acts. In March 2024, police investigated the case of a local district political candidate who raided workplaces and homes of migrant workers, and illegally detained migrant workers on suspicion of immigration violations and traffic offences. The political candidate utilized captured videos for online platform distribution to recruit and spread extreme political views.
Online platforms also increase the risk of influence and/or manipulation of the political discourse by external parties. Online political activism remained constrained during the early 2010s, as a result of South Korea’s regulations on real name identification. With the judicial rejection of the legislation in 2012, and with increased utilization of VPNs, overseas based platforms, and identification proxies, even prominent commentators can now take on pseudonyms and remain unidentified.
As has been well documented and discussed, influencing discourse online can have a powerful impact on political action and voting behavior. A number of countries, including the U.S., U.K., Australia and Canada have addressed the issue through legislation and enforcement actions. Despite mounting concern in recent elections, South Korea is yet to undertake action to control external influence operations.
The presence and activities of online extremism presents several challenges to South Korea’s political system:
Threats to social cohesion. The divisive rhetoric propagated by extremist factions can deepen societal cleavages, making consensus-building on critical issues more difficult.
Radicalization of political discourse. As these groups push their agendas, mainstream political parties will be forced to adopt more extreme positions to appeal to radicalized segments of the electorate.
Impact on foreign policy. Far-right and far-left groups have opposing views on North Korea, Japan, and the U.S., which complicates South Korea’s diplomatic stance and limits its flexibility in addressing regional security issues.
Outlook: In the short term (0-12 months), far-right and far-left groups will continue to leverage digital platforms to shape narratives on North Korea, nuclear weapons, the U.S. alliance, economic inequality, and historical issues. In the medium term (1-5 years), their influence will drive mainstream political parties to adopt more polarized stances and may necessitate action to restrict the increased risk of external influence operations. Over the long term (5-10 years), while their direct impact may decline, these groups will likely persist as latent forces that could mobilize rapidly in response to contentious political developments.