What if U.S. President Donald Trump suddenly intervened in South Korea’s general election two years from now and claimed that a specific party must win “for Korea to become great again”?
What if he pressured South Korea by saying that unless former President Yoon Suk Yeol is released immediately, he would raise tariffs to 50% and even withdraw U.S. troops stationed in Korea?
This is not a fictional story.
Trump has repeatedly engaged in blatant election interference against stable countries.
Just a few days ago, in Hungary’s general election, Trump openly supported conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Two months ago, in Japan’s general election, he openly backed Sanae Takaichi, and in the 2017 French presidential election, he publicly supported far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
He paid no attention to criticism that this constituted interference in domestic affairs.
Against Brazil’s Lula administration, Trump demanded that the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro—who is currently being tried for alleged coup plotting—be canceled.
He threatened that if this demand was not met, he would raise tariffs from the original 10% to 50%.
At this level, it is almost surprising that Trump has not intervened in the impeachment trial of former President Yoon or in South Korea’s presidential election.
It is too early to feel reassured.
The Trump administration has not let go of its suspicion that “religious persecution is taking place in Korea.”
This is the context behind Trump posting on social media last August, just before a Korea–U.S. summit in Washington with President Lee Jae-myung, suggesting that “it seems like a purge or revolution is taking place in Korea,” and Vice President JD Vance conveying similar concerns earlier this year when he met Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
In particular, some domestic far-right groups appear to be encouraging these suspicions on the U.S. side.
Pro–“Yoon Again” figure Jeon Han-gil has said, “Without active intervention from the United States, we cannot restore a free Republic of Korea,” and has begun mobilizing by forming a group called the “Korea–U.S. Alliance Corps.”
PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk also left for a five-night, seven-day trip to the United States ahead of local elections, stating he was heading “to Washington, the front line of defending global freedom.”
It is difficult to explain this except as an attempt to widen the gap between the U.S. and the Lee Jae-myung administration and use it as domestic political leverage.
However, this is a dangerous game.
If Trump were to follow along and intervene in South Korea’s domestic elections for absurd reasons such as “Yoon Again,” election fraud, or religious persecution, it would not only harm the Democratic Party of Korea and the Lee administration.
Such outrageous interference in domestic affairs would likely lead to large-scale anti-American protests, placing a heavy burden on the Korea–U.S. alliance and ultimately benefiting only North Korea and China.
Posted by Freewhale98
3 Comments
Well one saving grace is Korea would only have to stall for 9 months until he’s out again and his threats rendered useless.
1. Summary
The article warns that Donald Trump’s pattern of intervening in foreign elections could extend to South Korea, especially as some domestic conservative and far-right groups appear to encourage U.S. involvement against the Lee Jae-myung administration. It argues that actions like Jang Dong-hyuk’s U.S. visit may be aimed at leveraging tensions with Washington for political gain, but cautions this is a dangerous strategy: any U.S. interference in Korean elections could trigger major anti-American backlash, damage the Korea–U.S. alliance, and ultimately benefit geopolitical rivals like North Korea and China.
2. How is this related to the sub
(1) The globalization of far-right: Korean far-right seek Trump’s intervention to save themselves from electoral annihilation.
3. My opinion
Americans might be tempted to meddle in other places to install MAGA-friendly governments. But it will backfire hard.
Remember that time when Vance went to hungary to campaign for orban and then orban’s opponent got a supermajority