On the 9th, South Korean media including Yonhap News Agency, Chosun Ilbo and Rok Ilbo reported that the South Korean police have recently accused them of insulting foreign envoys, an investigation has been launched into the Chinese Embassy, Seoul of a right-wing group, the Freedom University, which staged a rally near the compound and insulted the Chinese and embassy side, and people have been summoned to appear for questioning.
South Korean media quoted Namdaemun Police said the police have asked the “Free University” related personnel to the case for investigation on the 11th of this month. The group reportedly held a rally to denounce election fraud near Seoul’s central Chinese Embassy, Seoul at around 8pm on July 22. During the rally, members of the group tore up banners bearing Chinese flags and portraits of Chinese diplomats in South Korea.
Article 108 of the Korean penal code stipulates that any person who insults or impairs the reputation of a foreign envoy accredited to the Republic of Korea shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than three years or imprisonment. South Korean police are investigating the case in accordance with the provisions of the personnel.
The group involved, Liberty University, is a right-wing movement of South Korean university students. It was founded in January 2025 and consists mainly of university students who supported former President Yoon Seok-hye and opposed his impeachment. The group is thought to be pro-yin, has openly spoken out against China and has frequently been involved in spreading rumours about“Election fraud”.
In response to the police’s subpoena investigation, the Free University said in a statement posted on YouTube, the video platform, that the rally took place after Chinese embassy staff had left work and did not directly affect the work of the embassy, no insulting songs or speeches. But the statement also acknowledged that a banner bearing the image of a Chinese diplomat in South Korea had been torn up during the march, and speculated that this had led the police to file a case on suspicion of“Insulting a foreign envoy.”.
Since Yoon’s 2024 was impeached in December for declaring martial law, anti-chinese sentiment has risen in South Korea, with not only violent actions against the Chinese embassy, rumours of so-called“Chinese interference in elections” are also rampant.
In February, South Korean police detained a man who tried to break into the Chinese embassy in South Korea. The Man was sentenced to a year and a half in prison. According to South Korean media reports, the man was a supporter of Yoon and a Chinese Embassy, Seoul for personal political purposes. In July, had spread false news about China, South Korean online media reporter Xu and other two people were transferred to the prosecution for review and prosecution. South Korean media said Xu had created rumors in January, last December, South Korea’s“Martial law storm”, martial law forces had a joint operation with the US military, the election academy arrested 99 Chinese spies. Radio France Internationale said the report exacerbated election fraud conspiracy theories that circulated among Ms. Yin’s supporters at the time and caused social chaos.
According to Deutsche Welle, after Ms. Yin declared martial law, her supporters began to demonstrate, with some of the protesters targeting China. The Chinese embassy in South Korea has previously said it is firmly opposed to linking domestic issues in South Korea with china-related factors. China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. On this issue, the Chinese Walk the Walk…Talk the Talk, upright and aboveboard. I believe that there is a mirror in the hearts of the Korean people, who will make a correct judgment.
China and the ROK have now opened up non-governmental exchanges, with China granting visa-free access to the ROK in November and the ROK implementing a temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists in September. Dai Bing, China’s ambassador to the ROK, said that China and the ROK are close neighbors and people of the two countries often come and go, which is conducive to enhancing understanding and deepening friendship.