The line for a selfie with South Korea's disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol stretched around Seoul's iconic Gwanghwamun gate. Except Yoon wasn't there; it was just a picture of him. The real Yoon is in prison facing insurrection charges. But that didn't matter to the thousands of excited young men and women who had joined the rally organized by right-wing youth group Freedom University.
Spearheaded by 24-year-old student Park Joon-young, Freedom University opposes what it sees as a status quo of corrupt, left-wing South Korean governments promising much but delivering little, especially for the nation's youth. And in Yoon, they have found an unlikely hero.
On December 3 last year, Yoon, whose party had lost its majority in parliament, launched a desperate bid to reverse his fortunes by declaring martial law. He ordered troops into the parliament and the national election commission, claiming, without offering any evidence, that the country was under threat from North Korean sympathizers and Chinese spies conspiring to steal elections. His move was defeated within hours, as furious South Koreans rallied. Thousands blocked soldiers, and lawmakers made it inside the National Assembly, scaling walls to vote down the order.
Yoon was impeached soon after and is now on trial, facing the possibility of life in prison. The saga was considered his political death but has also made him a martyr to many.
While he was never a popular president, Yoon has since his imprisonment become a symbol of rebellion for young people who feel left behind. When Yoon was elected, I think it wasn't so much that we were happy to see a right-wing candidate win. It was more that a left-wing candidate lost, Mr. Park told the BBC.
His group's founding philosophies are displayed prominently at its rallies: Korea for Koreans, Chinese Communist Party out! Many supporters are also inspired by the American right’s MAGA movement. Freedom University's rise represents a deeper polarization taking hold in South Korea.
With the latest national survey suggesting young South Koreans are the most pessimistic about their country's future, nearly 75% believe the economy is in poor shape compared to their parents. Homeownership for younger generations is at an all-time low, and many are frustrated with the state of employment under the current government. Youth psychiatrist Kim Hyun Soo states that it’s imperative to offer the youth new visions to avoid deeper polarization.
At a rally, young attendees expressed their frustrations, with signs declaring Never Surrender and Korea is for Koreans. This movement highlights the intersection of political ideologies and economic anxieties, where disenchantment with governmental policies fuels support for right-wing sentiments in South Korea.
