Open sources indicate that China influences politics and society in South Korea through many channels. Much of this influence is connected to the pro-China leftist Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which dominates the National Assembly. The DPK has weaponized the legislative branch's lawmaking power and impeached pro-US President Yoon Suk-yeol, who pursued economic decoupling from China. The following short list, comprising information taken form open sources, gives some examples of China's influence in South Korea.
China's Long-Term Support For Pro-China Politicians In South Korea:
Lee Jae-myung, current DPK candidate at the June 3 presidential elections
• Lee actively advocates for improving relations with China and criticized the "inequality" of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
• He has claimed that, if elected, he would cancel THAAD deployment. He argues that the U.S. uses THAAD to block China's maritime access and spy on Chinese secrets, solely for U.S. interests.
• Lee holds an anti-Japan stance. On November 14, 2016, he criticized the South Korea-Japan Military Intelligence Protection Agreement.
• In March 2024, Lee questioned the Yoon administration's stance toward China, asking, "Why provoke China? What does the Taiwan issue have to do with South Korea?"
Former President Moon Jae-in (2017-2022)
• During his presidency, Moon Jae-in promoted China-South Korea reconciliation.
• Yoon accused Moon's administration of leaking THAAD-related intelligence and collaborating with China.
See: Exclusive: Audit finds Moon administration leaked THAAD details to China, civic groups, Chosun daily, Nov.19, 2024
Editorial: Moon officials undermined THAAD to appease China, Chosun daily, Apr. 10, 2025
• Moon Jae-in has publicly endorsed the view that South Korea's founding was illegitimate, portraying it as the work of pro-Japanese collaborators under U.S. influence.
Cultural Involvement
• By the end of 2023, there were 39 Confucius Institutes promoting the CCP in South Korea.
• In Seoul National University's (SNU) there is a "Xi Jinping Collection Room," a section of the main library that houses more than 10,000 books and videos donated by the Chinese leader after his visit to the country in 2014.
• In 2019, Institute for Democracy, an arm of the Democratic party of Korea responsible for election strategy, signed an agreement with the CCP Central Committee's Party School, which produces the party elites.
Sexual Bribery
A senior South Korean intelligence official told Epoch Times journalist Joshua Philipp about high-ranking South Korean officials and business elites being under the control of the CCP due to sexual bribes, and secret fund transfers.[1]
Spy Activities
Chinese Students Caught Using Drones to Spy on U.S. and Korean Military Bases
• In June 2024, three Chinese students were caught using drones to film U.S. aircraft carrier. In January 2024, a Chinese national was detained flying a drone near a security-sensitive zone. Chinese nationals had been caught filming South Korean military and key government facilities on 11 occasions since June 2024.
• On December 23, 2022, the Korean media reported that a restaurant in Seoul was identified as a CCP 'secret police station' to suppress dissidents.
Legal Loopholes: Article 98 of Korea's criminal code defines espionage only in relation to "enemy states" (i.e., N. Korea). China is not classified as an enemy, which limits legal tools to prosecute Chinese spies.
Online Manipulation
• Troll Army "Wu Mao" active in Korean online platforms like Naver, Daum, to sway opinion on political issues.
• Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) investigated hacking by N. Korea and CCP against South Korea's National Election Commission servers and computers, and it discovered serious weaknesses in the system.
[1] From minute 16:15: https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/11/25/a103829385.html
