A report alleging that 90 individuals were confined at the National Election Commission (NEC)'s training institute during the short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3 morphed into a baseless conspiracy theory claiming they were Chinese spies and were deported to a U.S. military base.
Despite denials from the NEC, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and police, the fake news spread rapidly, fueled by right-wing media, YouTubers and political figures — highlighting the struggles of fighting against the rapid spread of misinformation.
Bae Jin-han, President Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyer, claimed during Yoon's second impeachment hearing last Thursday that these individuals "were transferred to a U.S. military base in Okinawa" in Japan and "confessed to election interference," reference speculation of meddling in Korea's 2020 general election and the manipulation of results to favor left-leaning parties.
Former Constitutional Court Justice Cho Dae-hyun, another member of Yoon’s defense team, echoed the claims, asserting that martial law was necessary to combat “domestic and international communist leftist forces plotting election fraud to seize power in the National Assembly" — the conspiracy theories, originally propagated by some right-wing YouTubers, now reaching the impeachment trial.
Responding to media inquiries, USFK said claims about U.S. military involvement were "entirely false," highlighting that it is committed to "maintaining stability and security on the Korean Peninsula."
Military sources also confirmed that no Chinese individuals were detained or involved, and the National Police Agency, currently investigating the Dec. 3 martial law incident, reiterated the allegations were “completely unfounded.”
During the impeachment trial on Thursday, Bae Jin-han, a lawyer representing the president, claimed, “The National Election Commission's (NEC) password ‘12345’ for its electronic system appears to be a connection code between China’s central and local governments, as if it were designed to grant access through China.”
Yoon’s legal team justified the necessity of declaring martial law to “take control of the NEC and resolve election fraud suspicions,” pointing to these claims as evidence.
For some reason people think controlling drugs is impossible because prohibition of alcohol in America failed.
No. It means they just quit trying and let guys like Jews build businesses to exploit the masses more.
Maybe when it's all said and done, drugs will be what finishes off the west.
There was that other sub full of hardcore self-loathing Chinese and when that got shutdown for racism some of them went to china_irl and made it worse.
Japan knows already, they've invited a delegation from Eastern Theatre Command to visit their Ministry of Defence to sort out the deal with that one captain who entered Chinese water without order.It's funny to watch Europe and Canada suddenly realize that being a vassal state to a sole superpower isn't a good thing and they suddenly want to participate in fence sitting, a time honored SEA tradition. This are the same people that would have gladly wiped China off the map a few months ago. But now a common consensus I keep seeing is that Europe/Canada needs to court China to balance out America and how they need to ramp up economical and technological engagement with China to counter American tariffs. Competition is good after all and it's never wise to put all your eggs in one basket.
I wonder how south koreans, Japanese and Philippines feel about America acting so crazy and if they are starting to take a real hard look at their foreign policy as a result.
Maybe could influence public opinion in Pan?What did anyone expect? Panama is extremely pro-US. Also I’m pretty sure this HK company is just British people operating under HK’s name.. I dont know how trump came to think this was China
This changes public opinion everywhere. 180° policy change every 4 years is crazy. How can any country in the world make deals or negotiate with the US anymore? The first term of Trump might have been a fluke. But him coming back proves that it's a trend. All the other stupid shit that he's doing just makes it worse. Elon Musk is just throwing fuel onto the fire, almost everyone hates him, even a lot of the MAGA camp hate him. Every country on earth is going to have a very hard good look at their current foreign policy at this rate.Maybe could influence public opinion in Pan?