Yoon Seok-yeol and Trump Target Only Supporters
Reiterate Claims of Election Fraud... Distrust in Election Commission System
The Biggest Victims Are Supporters... "A Shame in Constitutional History"
President Yoon Suk-yeol, upon the announcement of the execution of an arrest warrant, sent a letter to his supporters on the 1st, urging them to gather in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This move has been compared to the actions of former U.S. President Donald Trump after his defeat to President Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at his Hannam-dong residence on the 14th after his impeachment motion was passed in the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News
①Claims of Election Fraud Conspiracy
On the 12th of last month, President Yoon issued a statement claiming the legitimacy of declaring martial law, citing a "serious matter that cannot be revealed." He suggested there were suspicions of election fraud. He said, "In the second half of 2023, there were hacking attacks by North Korea on constitutional and government institutions, including the National Election Commission," adding, "When a National Intelligence Service employee attempted hacking as a hacker, data manipulation was easily possible, and the firewall was virtually non-existent. Passwords were simple, like '12345'." He also expressed distrust regarding last April's general election, in which the ruling party suffered a complete defeat, saying, "It is uncertain whether the (Election Commission system) was properly improved."
Former President Trump also raised election fraud conspiracy theories before and after his defeat in the 2020 election. As the vote counting progressed in favor of President Biden, he claimed, "There are problems with the system, such as mail-in voting." In a statement from the White House in November 2020, he said, "We were leading by a large margin in states like Michigan and Arizona, but the situation changed due to late-counted votes," and added, "Unprecedented corruption is occurring in American history, such as mail-in ballots being sent to people without voting rights." He continued, "The opponent must not steal this election through corruption," and declared, "America will win, we will win."
②Messages Only for Supporters
(Washington AP=Yonhap News) Thousands of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gathered at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on the 6th (local time). Among them, hundreds stormed the Capitol and occupied the Rotunda. The occupation of the Capitol, a symbol of American democracy, by protesters is an unprecedented event. Congress was scheduled to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory that day, but the joint session of the House and Senate was abruptly suspended due to the Capitol breach. Yonhap News
As the situation worsened with an arrest warrant issued on charges of rebellion, President Yoon turned to his supporters. On the 1st, he sent a handwritten letter to supporters gathered in front of the presidential residence. In the letter, he said, "I see your efforts through real-time live YouTube broadcasts," and "I will fight to the end with you to protect this country." He also urged supporters to unite, saying, "Freedom and democracy, where every citizen is the owner, will surely prevail. Let's be stronger together."
Former President Trump also voiced his supporters when the election fraud conspiracy theory failed to gain traction and the transition to the Biden administration proceeded. On January 1, 2021 (local time), he encouraged supporters via his social media to attend a protest against the confirmation of Biden's election victory on January 6. He claimed, "Massive evidence of election fraud will be revealed on the 6th. We won big."
The supporters' reactions were similar. About 1,000 supporters enthusiastically gathered in front of President Yoon's residence following his letter. A conservative YouTube channel, Shinui Hansoo, stated on a broadcast the day before, "We have been shouting to protect the country but scattered in vain," adding, "President Yoon personally checked the rally site through the YouTube channel and said he would fight with patriotic citizens to the end. We came out empowered by that voice." Approximately 30,000 supporters of former President Trump also gathered in a park near the White House on January 6, 2021, to attend the 'Save America' rally.
③Will It Lead to Violence?
On the afternoon of the 2nd, the third day since the arrest warrant was issued for President Yoon Seok-yeol, police are dispersing supporters of President Yoon lying on the road in front of the main gate of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
The Save America rally eventually led to the 'U.S. Capitol siege riot.' The participants broke doors and windows to enter and occupy the Capitol building. Police set up barricades to prevent the protesters from breaking in but were overwhelmed. Members of the House and Senate, who were in session, evacuated urgently, and the U.S. Capitol Police drew their guns and fired. During the suppression of the riot, five people died, including four protesters and one police officer. This event is still regarded as a significant wound to American democracy.
A similar atmosphere is seen among President Yoon's supporters. About 30 supporters gathered in front of the presidential residence the day before lay down on the road to prevent the execution of the arrest warrant. During the police's attempt to forcibly disperse the crowd by deploying riot police, scuffles broke out between President Yoon's supporters and the police. They have announced a 'fight to the death' with intense reactions. Joo Ok-soon, leader of the Mom's Army, called at the protest site the day before to "punish Judge Lee Soon-hyung of the Seoul Western District Court," who issued the arrest warrant for President Yoon on the 31st of last month.
The greatest damage is expected to be suffered not by President Yoon but by his supporters. Former President Trump was indicted for inciting the riot but gained judicial immunity after winning the U.S. presidential election last year. In contrast, Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and a strong proponent of election fraud conspiracy theories alongside Trump, was disbarred and ordered to pay 200 billion won in damages to conspiracy victims, leading to bankruptcy. Enrique Tarrio, a far-right activist who did not directly storm the U.S. Capitol but was indicted for organizing and inciting the event, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in September 2023.
Criticism also arose within the ruling party against President Yoon, who used his supporters as a shield. Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People Power Party, appeared on MBC Radio's Kim Jong-bae's Focus and said about President Yoon's letter, "It is a cowardly act that abandons the last dignity and grace, stirs social conflict, and hides behind supporters," adding, "Hiding and ignoring the arrest of subordinates will remain a shame in constitutional history."
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