Open Sources Indicate Chinese Involvement In South Korea – Support For Pro-China Politicians, Cultural Influence, Sexual Bribery, Espionage, And Online Manipulation
Open sources indicate that China influences politics and society in South Korea through many channels. Much of this influence is connected to the pro-China leftist Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which dominates the National Assembly. The DPK has weaponized the legislative branch's lawmaking power and impeached pro-US President Yoon Suk-yeol, who pursued economic decoupling from China. The following short list, comprising information taken form open sources, gives some examples of China's influence in South Korea.
China's Long-Term Support For Pro-China Politicians In South Korea:
Lee Jae-myung, current DPK candidate at the June 3 presidential elections
• Lee actively advocates for improving relations with China and criticized the "inequality" of the U.S.-South Korea alliance .
• He has claimed that, if elected, he would cancel THAAD deployment. He argues that the U.S. uses THAAD to block China's maritime access and spy on Chinese secrets, solely for U.S. interests.
• Lee holds an anti-Japan stance. On November 14, 2016, he criticized the South Korea-Japan Military Intelligence Protection Agreement.
• In March 2024, Lee questioned the Yoon administration's stance toward China, asking, "Why provoke China? What does the Taiwan issue have to do with South Korea?"
Former President Moon Jae-in (2017-2022)
• During his presidency, Moon Jae-in promoted China-South Korea reconciliation.
• Yoon accused Moon's administration of leaking THAAD-related intelligence and collaborating with China.
See: Exclusive: Audit finds Moon administration leaked THAAD details to China, civic groups, Chosun daily, Nov.19, 2024
Editorial: Moon officials undermined THAAD to appease China, Chosun daily, Apr. 10, 2025
• Moon Jae-in has publicly endorsed the view that South Korea's founding was illegitimate, portraying it as the work of pro-Japanese collaborators under U.S. influence.
Cultural Involvement
• By the end of 2023, there were 39 Confucius Institutes promoting the CCP in South Korea.
• In Seoul National University's (SNU) there is a "Xi Jinping Collection Room," a section of the main library that houses more than 10,000 books and videos donated by the Chinese leader after his visit to the country in 2014.
• In 2019, Institute for Democracy, an arm of the Democratic party of Korea responsible for election strategy, signed an agreement with the CCP Central Committee's Party School, which produces the party elites.
Sexual Bribery
A senior South Korean intelligence official told Epoch Times journalist Joshua Philipp about high-ranking South Korean officials and business elites being under the control of the CCP due to sexual bribes, and secret fund transfers.[1]
Spy Activities
Chinese Students Caught Using Drones to Spy on U.S. and Korean Military Bases
• In June 2024, three Chinese students were caught using drones to film U.S. aircraft carrier. In January 2024, a Chinese national was detained flying a drone near a security-sensitive zone. Chinese nationals had been caught filming South Korean military and key government facilities on 11 occasions since June 2024.
• On December 23, 2022, the Korean media reported that a restaurant in Seoul was identified as a CCP 'secret police station' to suppress dissidents.
Legal Loopholes: Article 98 of Korea's criminal code defines espionage only in relation to "enemy states" (i.e., N. Korea). China is not classified as an enemy, which limits legal tools to prosecute Chinese spies.
Online Manipulation
• Troll Army "Wu Mao" active in Korean online platforms like Naver, Daum, to sway opinion on political issues.
• Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) investigated hacking by N. Korea and CCP against South Korea's National Election Commission servers and computers, and it discovered serious weaknesses in the system.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Exclusive: Trump's Iran offensive triggers Houthi retaliation in Red Sea
Shafaq News/ Yemen's Ansarallah movement (Houthis) will resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea and any maritime corridors passing through areas under its control, a Houthi official announced on Sunday. Brigadier General Abed Mohammed Al-Thawr, Assistant Director of the Moral Guidance Department in the Houthi-aligned Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed to Shafaq News that Washington's direct involvement in the war has 'collapsed diplomatic efforts and mediation attempts aimed at de-escalation,' adding that Yemen remains firmly aligned with Tehran and will support it with all available means. The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had launched airstrikes (Operation Midnight Hammer) on three nuclear facilities in Iran. In early May 2025, the United States and Yemen's Houthi movement reached a ceasefire agreement after weeks of escalating hostilities in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The deal, brokered by Oman and announced by President Donald Trump, brought an end to US-led Operation Rough Rider and paused Houthi attacks on US-linked vessels.
Iraqi News
13 hours ago
- Iraqi News
Iraq, Arab states express frustration over US strikes on Iran
Dubai – Arab countries on Sunday strongly condemned the US air strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran, warning of serious repercussions and calling for a return to diplomacy. Iran's former arch-rival in the region, Saudi Arabia, which has been engaged in a Chinese-brokered detente with Tehran since 2023, expressed 'great concern' over the attacks. Gulf countries have been engaged in a diplomatic frenzy for solutions since Israel launched its air campaign on their neighbour Iran on June 13. Many of the oil-rich countries host major US assets and bases and fear that a spillover from the war could threaten their security and economy. Qatar, host of the biggest US military base in the Middle East, said it feared 'catastrophic consequences' for the region and the entire world. Yemen's Huthi rebels repeated threats to target US vessels and warships in the Red Sea after the overnight strikes, describing them as a 'war declaration' on the Iranian people. On Saturday, the Iran-backed group threatened to resume attacks on US vessels and warships in the Red Sea despite a recent Oman-mediated truce, should Washington strike Iran. US President Donald Trump said the attacks destroyed Iran's main nuclear sites, describing them as a 'spectacular military success'. But his allies in the Gulf, who neighbour Iran, were urging a return to diplomacy. Oman, which was mediating nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, strongly condemned the US strikes labelling them illegal and calling for immediate deescalation. The United Arab Emirates expressed concern after the attack, calling for 'an immediate end to the escalation'. Bahrain, home to a major US naval base, told most of its government employees to work from home until further notice following the escalation. The US Navy's Fifth Fleet, which covers the region, is based in Bahrain. Kuwait said its finance ministry had activated an emergency plan that includes readying shelters. The Palestinian militant group Hamas condemned what it called 'blatant US aggression' against Iran. Iraq, which also hosts US bases, expressed 'deep concern and strong condemnation' of the attacks, government spokesperson Basim Alawadi said, labelling them 'a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East'. Fears are growing in Iraq over a possible intervention by Iran-backed armed factions, who have threatened Washington's interests in the region if it were to join Israel in its war against Iran. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, largely seen as close to the United States, urged both sides to resume talks to restore stability in the region. The country has been reeling from a destructive conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group over the Gaza war, which ended with a fragile truce last November despite frequent Israeli attacks on the group. Egypt also condemned the escalation in Iran, warning of 'dangerous repercussions' for the region and calling for diplomacy.
Shafaq News
18 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US Embassy confirms phased personnel departure
Shafaq News/ The US Embassy in Baghdad confirmed, on Sunday, that it began a phased departure of some personnel earlier this month. A spokesperson for the US Embassy told Shafaq News, 'On June 12, out of an abundance of caution and due to heightened regional tensions, US Mission Iraq began the orderly departure of some personnel.' 'As part of our ongoing effort to streamline operations, additional personnel departed Iraq on June 21 and 22,' the spokesperson added. The US State Department, according to the spokesperson, continues to assess the security environment across Iraq and reiterated that 'there is no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens at home and abroad.' While the staff reduction has sparked speculation about Washington's long-term presence in Iraq, the embassy underscored that it remains fully operational and coordinates closely with Iraqi authorities. The evacuation came hours after US airstrikes targeted three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—in what President Donald Trump called 'precise and successful operations.'
