When South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol justified his brief martial law decree by claiming election hacking and the influence of "anti-state" pro-North Korean sympathizers, right-wing YouTuber Ko Sung-kook recognized these familiar claims. Ko, who often shares similar views with his 1.1 million YouTube subscribers, expressed hope that if President Yoon listened to YouTubers, he could better understand public sentiment, particularly among the president’s supporters.

Yoon was impeached and removed from office following a controversial parliamentary vote on Saturday regarding his December 3 martial law decree, which sparked a constitutional crisis and divided his own conservative People Power Party (PPP). PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, a former ally of Yoon, resigned, accusing South Korea's right-wing media of sowing divisions among conservatives. Han warned that aligning with extremists like conspiracy theorists and extreme YouTubers could undermine conservatism.

A column in the conservative-leaning JoongAng Ilbo newspaper criticized Yoon’s alleged YouTube addiction, suggesting it had fueled delusions and conspiracy theories. Yoon’s office did not respond to queries about his viewing habits or the sources behind his martial law justification.

In an interview at his office, Ko stated he wasn’t sure if Yoon watched his show but appreciated YouTubers offering an alternative platform that seemed to align with the president's views. Yoon, elected in 2022 by a narrow margin, had previously invited right-wing YouTube commentators to his inauguration and hired a YouTuber who promoted conspiracy theories about Chinese Communist influence to lead the public servant training agency.

Yoon, in a defiant speech on Thursday, framed his political opponents as "anti-state forces" and defended his martial law decree as a necessary legal move to protect democracy. The accusation of pro-North Korean sympathies carries significant weight in South Korea due to the ongoing threat from North Korea and laws that ban communist or pro-Pyongyang activities.

Ko's show, Kosungkook TV, offers a platform for right-wing views, and despite criticism from some PPP lawmakers, he dismissed claims of a special relationship between Yoon and conservative YouTubers, pointing out similar dynamics on the liberal side. As martial law was enacted, the military restricted media, sending troops to the offices of a left-wing YouTube personality critical of Yoon.

Ko continued to support Yoon, attending a rally in Seoul where thousands of Yoon’s supporters gathered. He characterized the political battle as an "all-out war" between pro-North Korea factions and the right-wing. Supporters like Lee Kwang-hyun, a 71-year-old fan, praised Ko for guiding conservatives and expressed opposition to impeachment, believing it would hinder Yoon’s political role. Lee also compared Yoon's fight against alleged election fraud to Trump’s stance on similar issues.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters