The Relationship Between South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol's Implementation Of Martial Law, His Subsequent Arrest, And China's Infiltration Of South Korea

This article aims to explore the connection between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's implementation of martial law, his subsequent arrest, and China's infiltration of South Korea. The analysis is based on the following aspects:

Close China-South Korea Economic Ties: For over 20 years, China has been South Korea's largest trading partner, and in 2024, South Korea officially became China's second-largest trading partner.

Frequent Personnel Exchanges: In 2023, a total of 3,764,400 people traveled between the two countries, a figure that increase further in 2024.

China's Cultural Influence: By the end of 2023, there were 39 Confucius Institutes established in South Korea.

Yoon Suk-yeol's Opposition to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): Due to Yoon's pro-U.S. policy and efforts to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance, he has become a "thorn in Beijing's side." His arrest reflects the CCP's efforts to suppress dissent through infiltration in South Korea.

CCP Support For Pro-China Figures: China has long provided overt or covert support to figures such as Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, former President Moon Jae-in, and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, aiming to undermine the U.S.-South Korea alliance and compete with the U.S. for influence over South Korea.

Illegal Bribery and Sexual Coercion: Reports from media sources, including the statements of a South Korean intelligence official during a video interview in South Korea with American journalist Joshua Philipp, along with related revelations from exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui in the U.S., indicate that the CCP has used financial incentives, particularly sexual bribery, to gain leverage over South Korean political, business, and academic figures, forcing them to comply with Beijing's demands at critical moments. These tactics are key methods in the CCP's united front strategy to influence foreign political operations and divide opposing factions.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol

The Political Background of Yoon Suk-yeol's Martial Law and Arrest

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol abruptly declared nationwide martial law, citing "anti-state forces threatening the democratic system" as justification, in an attempt to suppress domestic opposition. However, this decision was swiftly overturned by the National Assembly within just five and a half hours. The move triggered widespread upheaval in South Korean society, and Yoon was subsequently accused of "insurrection." On January 15, 2025, following intense confrontations, South Korean police and anti-corruption authorities breached the defenses of his official residence and arrested him, marking him the first sitting president in South Korea's constitutional history to be detained on criminal charges.

The immediate cause of Yoon's arrest stems from controversies over the legality of his martial law decision and the ensuing political crisis. However, some analysts and many South Koreans believe that deeper geopolitical maneuvering – particularly China's (and North Korea's) infiltration – may lie behind these events.

It has been noted that Yoon's overtly pro-U.S. policies posed a threat to Beijing's long-term strategy of cultivating a pro-China faction in South Korea, encroaching on CCP interests and making him a target in the broader U.S.-China rivalry. Through a combination of long-term covert and overt support, the CCP has patiently bolstered pro-China political figures, leaving staunchly pro-U.S. leaders like Yoon isolated under internal and external pressures, ultimately turning him into a "scapegoat."

A photo of the crowd gathered at the Gwanghwamun rally opposing the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. (Source: Fntoday.co.kr, March 1, 2025)

Below, the analysis unfolds across six key points:

1. The Close Economic Ties Between China And South Korea And Their Role In Beijing's Influence

The deep economic interdependence between China and South Korea provides Beijing with significant leverage over Seoul's political decisions.

According to 2024 trade data:

• China's total foreign trade reached ¥43.85 trillion (approximately $6.16 trillion), a five-percent increase from the previous year.

• China-South Korea bilateral trade accounted for ¥2.33 trillion, making South Korea China's second-largest trading partner (after the U.S.).

• China ran a trade deficit with South Korea amounting to ¥251.6 billion, one of the largest trade deficits that China has with any country.

• South Korea's exports to China, particularly in semiconductors and high-tech products, accounted for over 20 percent of its total exports.^[1]

This economic interdependence allows China to exert political pressure on South Korea. If Beijing manipulates trade policies, it can weaken Seoul's autonomy, creating opportunities for external intervention in political decision-making. By using trade, investments, and financial cooperation, China can gradually infiltrate various aspects of South Korean society and politics.

Yoon's government pursued economic decoupling from China, reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains and strengthening economic ties with the U.S. and Japan. These policies have been perceived as threats to China's interests, potentially exacerbating tensions between the two nations. Some analysts and South Korean citizens believe that China has covertly supported domestic opposition forces in South Korea, indirectly contributing to Yoon's political crisis, which ultimately set the stage for martial law and his arrest.^[2]

2. Frequent People-To-People Exchanges Between China And South Korea as Potential Channels For Infiltration

Beyond trade, frequent travel between China and South Korea presents another avenue for CCP infiltration.

In 2023, the number of China-South Korea traveler exchanges reached 3,760,000, with:

• 1,290,000 South Koreans visiting China

• 2,470,000 Chinese visiting South Korea

With China unilaterally waiving visa requirements for South Korean visitors in 2024, these numbers are expected to rise further.

Such a high volume of cross-border movement not only facilitates economic and cultural exchange but also creates opportunities for Chinese intelligence-gathering, influence operations, and covert benefit transfers. Chinese intelligence agencies and affiliated groups can exploit legitimate travel and business exchange programs as cover to establish intelligence networks within South Korea, enabling long-term infiltration and influence over key decision-makers and elite circles.

South Korean intelligence agencies have hinted that China may be using students, cultural institutions, or business representatives to infiltrate South Korean society. Some of Yoon Suk-yeol's supporters interpreted his martial law declaration's reference to "anti-state forces" as including pro-China factions. South Korean intelligence sources have hinted that CCP-affiliated operatives may have infiltrated South Korean protests in 2024 that contributed to his political downfall.

3. China's Cultural Influence on South Korea

In recent years, Beijing has invested heavily in promoting its cultural soft power globally. According to South Korean data, by the end of 2023, there were 39 Confucius Institutes operating in the country. These institutes teach Mandarin, introduce Chinese culture, and host various cultural events, presenting South Koreans with China's history, arts, and contemporary achievements to foster a positive image of China.

This cultural outreach by the CCP not only seeks to improve China's national image in South Korea but also subtly lays the groundwork for political infiltration. The combination of cultural soft power with the hard power of economic and personnel ties enables Beijing to exert multidimensional influence and control over South Korea.

For this reason, South Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo has reported that Confucius Institutes in the country serve as Beijing's "strongholds for cultivating pro-China factions in South Korea."^[3]

4. Yoon Suk-Yeol's Confrontation With The CCP: Becoming A Victim Of Chinese Infiltration And A Casualty Of U.S.-China Geopolitical Struggles

Since taking office, Yoon Suk-yeol has pursued a pro-U.S. policy, focusing on strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance and maintaining close cooperation with the U.S. in security and defense. This stance is seen by the CCP as contrary to Beijing's strategic goals, leading some to argue that Yoon's policies not only put him at odds with the CCP but also made him a prime target of Chinese infiltration efforts in South Korea.

When Xi Jinping met Yoon in Peru on November 15, 2024, his cordial demeanor was likely a tactic to mislead Yoon. Less than three weeks later, on December 3, Yoon suddenly imposed martial law. On that same day, during a YouTube political commentary program, I pointed out that Beijing's shadow loomed behind South Korea's political turmoil, possibly as part of a CCP-orchestrated scheme.

In this context, Yoon's imposition of martial law and subsequent arrest have been interpreted by many observers as the result of the CCP's long-term infiltration and covert support for pro-China figures to divide and suppress dissent. Some believe that Yoon, facing dual pressures from within and outside South Korea, became a sacrificial lamb under the CCP's prolonged influence due to his inability to garner sufficient domestic support. In other words, his arrest reflects, to some extent, the CCP's "soft strike" strategy of exploiting internal contradictions to weaken pro-U.S. forces.^[4]

5. China's Long-Term And Patient Support For Pro-China Politicians In South Korea

China has consistently used both overt and covert methods to support pro-China, anti-U.S., and anti-Japan political figures in South Korea. These include Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, former President Moon Jae-in, and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Beijing has carefully cultivated a pro-China political network within South Korea over time.

1) Lee Jae-myung

As the leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election.

• Lee actively advocates for improving relations with China and opposes South Korea's over-reliance on the U.S., making him a prominent pro-China politician.

• After Yoon declared martial law, Lee led the opposition in swiftly overturning the measure and initiated impeachment proceedings, playing a key role in Yoon's downfall.

• Some observers believe that Lee received covert support from China to remove Yoon from power.^[5]

2) Moon Jae-in

During his presidency (2017-2022), Moon Jae-in promoted China-South Korea reconciliation, including resolving the THAAD missile dispute and avoiding open confrontation with Beijing.

• After Yoon took office, his government criticized Moon's administration for being overly pro-China, even hinting that Moon's policies enabled Chinese infiltration of South Korea.

• Reports indicate that Moon had secret meetings with top Chinese officials regarding THAAD deployment and North Korea's nuclear issue, and that his administration's key decisions were covertly influenced by Beijing.

• Although Moon publicly claimed to balance relations between the U.S. and China, these hidden connections suggest that his policies tilted toward Beijing at critical moments, weakening South Korea's strategic independence.

Recently, during his court hearings, Yoon accused Moon's administration of leaking THAAD-related intelligence and collaborating with China, North Korea, and Russia.^[6]

3) Ban Ki-Moon

After stepping down as UN Secretary-General in 2017, Ban Ki-moon was appointed Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia in 2018 – a position controlled by the Chinese government.

• Some commentators view this as Beijing's "reward" for Ban's past cooperation, using his international influence to advance China's interests.

• Although Ban's direct influence on South Korean politics has diminished, his case is seen as a prime example of high-level Chinese infiltration into South Korea's political elite.^[7]

6. Sexual Bribery And Covert Financial Influence: The CCP's United Front Tactics

In addition to official diplomatic and economic strategies, the CCP has been accused of using illegal methods such as sexual bribery and secret financial incentives to control key figures in South Korea's political, business, and academic circles.

• During a TV interview in South Korea, American journalist Joshua Philipp spoke with a senior South Korean intelligence official who revealed that some high-ranking South Korean officials and business elites are under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to accepting sexual bribes, lavish banquets, and secret fund transfers.

• Guo Wengui (aka Miles Kwok), a Chinese billionaire exiled in the United States, had repeatedly disclosed that the CCP used money, luxury goods, and sexual bribery to establish a vast network of influence in South Korea and other countries, forcing key figures in these nations to comply with Beijing's demands when making national policy and business decisions.[8]

These illicit infiltration tactics are highly covert and destructive, severely undermining the integrity of South Korea's political and business environments. They also silence key decision-makers under investigation, providing a "protective umbrella" for the CCP's long-term influence over South Korean politics.

Through a combination of public economic and cultural influence, secret financial backing, and illicit coercion, China has been able to destabilize the South Korea-U.S. alliance and expand its strategic control over South Korea.

This multidimensional infiltration and United Front strategy not only poses unprecedented challenges to South Korea in its internal and external struggles but also threatens the security of the entire Northeast Asian region. Traditional allies like the U.S. and Japan must closely monitor changes in South Korea's political landscape to prevent the CCP from gaining a strategic upper hand.

Conclusion

In summary, Yoon Suk-yeol's imposition of martial law and arrest have triggered significant political upheaval in South Korea, with a deeper logic of long-term CCP infiltration and interference lurking behind these events.^[9]

As a staunchly pro-U.S. leader, Yoon's foreign and security policies stand in stark contrast to the pro-China figures long supported and controlled by the CCP. Through overt economic cooperation, political donations, covert benefit transfers, and even illegal sexual bribery, the CCP has cultivated and coerced certain South Korean political figures over time, aiming to undermine the U.S.-South Korea alliance, weaken South Korea's strategic independence, and expand its regional influence at the expense of the U.S.^[10]

American journalist Joshua Philipp's interviews with South Korean intelligence official, along with Guo Wengui's multiple revelations, provide strong evidence that China has used illicit means to compromise South Korean politicians.

The tactic of using sexual bribery and other illegal benefit transfers to "hold leverage" not only corrupts South Korea's political and business integrity but also forces key decision-makers to cater to Beijing's interests under external pressure, exacerbating internal political division and external strategic imbalance.

President Yoon Suk-Yeol's martial law declaration and arrest are not merely a culmination of domestic political conflict but also reflect the CCP's broader strategy of infiltrating and dividing South Korean politics through economic, cultural, and illicit means, as well as personnel exchanges. This United Front approach has not only disrupted South Korea's political ecosystem but also profoundly impacted the U.S.-South Korea alliance and regional security.

*Chris King is Senior Research Fellow for the MEMRI Chinese Media Studies Project. King was an active participant in the student protests in China in 1989.