Conservatives take risky gamble by fueling anti-Chinese sentiment among youth, experts say

By KTimes

Anti-China rhetoric is growing in Korea amid the political turmoil surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol’s potential impeachment. Online communities and YouTube channels are spreading conspiracy theories targeting China, with hostility toward the country escalating among the younger generation.

Political groups are also fueling these sentiments by promoting allegations such as Chinese interference in elections, raising concerns that anti-China ideology is being weaponized for political gain.

An analysis of three major galleries on DC Inside — an online community frequented by young supporters of the ruling party — revealed 5,230 posts with negative views on China between Jan. 10 and 16, averaging 747 per day.

Many of these posts contained misinformation, including claims that China influenced Korea’s elections or that a Constitutional Court justice is secretly Chinese.

YouTube channels with a strong youth following are also capitalizing on anti-China sentiment. Ground C, known for countering criticism of former President Syngman Rhee, and New Men’s Solidarity, a channel popular among young anti-feminist men, have seen increased engagement with China-related content.

Of the 29 videos uploaded by Ground C since early January, the two that discussed China had nearly double the average views (765,000) compared to other videos (393,000).

Similarly, New Men’s Solidarity uploaded four China-related videos, including one titled "Chinese citizens at pro-impeachment protests?" which garnered 80,000 more views than the channel’s other content.

Exploiting anti-China sentiment for political gain

Experts say far-right groups have deliberately stoked anti-China sentiment among young people following the short-lived Dec. 3 martial law imposition to mobilize political support.

While older generations may associate China with economic cooperation and cultural exports like martial arts films, younger Koreans are more critical due to historical disputes (such as China’s Northeast Project), restrictions on Korean cultural exports (Hallyu bans) and issues like fine dust pollution.

“Anti-China sentiment is shaped by diplomatic relations and can change over time, but outright hatred toward China is ideological,” said Kim Hee-kyo, a professor at Kwangwoon University’s Northeast Asian Cultural Industry Department. “The far right is using this hatred as a political tool to rally conservative support amid a second impeachment crisis.”

With traditional ideological divisions such as "pro-North vs. anti-North" losing their influence among young people, conservative groups have turned to anti-China rhetoric as a new unifying strategy.

"For hard-line conservatives who prioritize strong U.S.-Japan ties, China is an easy target," said Cho Jin-man, a professor of political science at Duksung Women’s University.

Some observers believe this strategy aims to frame China as a common enemy and reinforce perceptions of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea as pro-China.

Fueling conspiracy theories

Yoon and members of the ruling People Power Party have made statements that appear to encourage anti-China sentiment. Lawmakers Kim Min-jeon and Yoo Sang-beom recently faced criticism for spreading unverified claims that Chinese citizens participated in pro-impeachment protests.

Yoo himself referenced concerns about Chinese espionage, mentioning the arrest of "over 90 Chinese spies" in a Dec. 12 address and again during a Constitutional Court impeachment trial on Jan. 16.

"By openly promoting conspiracy theories, political leaders are reinforcing anti-China hostility among young Koreans, who already harbor cultural resentment toward China," said Han Nam-seok, a professor at the University of Seoul’s Department of Chinese Language and Culture.

Risks of escalating hostility

Experts warn that unchecked anti-China sentiment could lead to violence and harm Korea’s global standing.

On Jan. 19, during protests in western Seoul, Yoon supporters confronted civilians, demanding to know if they were Chinese, and even accused local police of being "Chinese security agents."

One protester, dressed as comic book character Captain America, stormed the Chinese Embassy, claiming he wanted to "send a message about rising anti-China sentiment."

Lee Jung-hee, an economics professor at Chung-Ang University, warned of economic repercussions, stating, “Anti-China sentiment will inevitably provoke anti-Korean sentiment in China, damaging Korean brands and hurting exports in industries like beauty and food.”

Kim Hee-kyo added, "Hatred toward China could come back 10 or 20 times stronger as anti-Korean sentiment. This dangerous game must stop before it spirals out of control."

Experts stress the need for comprehensive measures to curb the spread of anti-China sentiment. Lee Jung-hee suggested that economic organizations compile data on losses caused by anti-Korean sentiment in China to illustrate the dangers of escalating tensions. Stricter regulations on platforms that spread misinformation are also necessary.

"In Britain, the 2024 Media Act applies public broadcasting standards to platforms like YouTube. Korea should adopt similar policies to hold platforms accountable for fake news," said Lee Jong-myung, a senior researcher at Sungkyunkwan University’s Global Convergence Content Institute.

Strengthening media literacy education is another key solution. "Hatred often stems from confusing individual wrongdoing with broader group identities," said Seol Dong-hoon, a sociology professor at Jeonbuk National University. "Education must equip people to resist manipulation by groups that exploit hate for political purposes."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.