Seoul: Politicians in South Korea are being urged to distance themselves from YouTubers who have played a significant role in inciting violence and chaos at the Seoul Western District Court. Among 66 priority suspects under investigation for their involvement in the turmoil, three YouTubers have been identified as key figures in escalating aggression during rallies supporting President Yoon Suk Yeol. These individuals endorsed violent acts and provocative slogans, leading to an unprecedented attack on the judiciary following the Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the exploitative behavior of some YouTubers for monetary gain is not new, with instances ranging from organized crime figures running channels to livestreams of violent acts. Politics and protests have increasingly become targets of this toxic influence, exacerbated by Big Tech companies' reluctance to regulate harmful content. Both ruling and opposition politicians have fueled conflicts by spreading baseless conspiracy theories, often leveraging YouTube's divisive potential for their own political gains.
During a People Power Party (PPP) leadership convention last July, clashes between YouTubers supporting different candidates turned violent. Political leaders have failed to implement safeguards, opting instead to exploit YouTube's influence. Pro-Yoon rallies, led by figures like Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, have seen calls to ignore traditional conservative media in favor of YouTube, with far-right channels reportedly collecting substantial donations following the impeachment crisis.
Despite claims of neutrality, PPP lawmakers continue to associate with YouTubers promoting unfounded election fraud allegations. During impeachment hearings at the Constitutional Court, fake news, such as claims about Chinese nationals being detained and transferred to a U.S. military base, highlighted the extent of YouTube's influence. President Yoon has contributed to this dynamic, endorsing YouTube's coverage and emboldening agitators with statements supporting their actions.
The Democratic Party (DP) is also criticized for its reliance on extreme media, exemplified by inviting controversial YouTuber Kim Ou-joon to speak at the National Assembly. His inflammatory remarks, like suggesting an "assassination squad for Han Dong-hoon," underscore bipartisan dependence on sensational media for propaganda.
During an emergency Supreme Court meeting, concerns were raised about the normalization of extreme actions undermining the rule of law, threatening the nation's stability. As long as profit-driven extremist YouTubers and complicit politicians persist, incidents akin to the violence at Seoul Western District Court are likely to recur.