South Korea has become the frontline of a fierce ideological battle.
What began with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration last December has morphed into a high-stakes political showdown. Those, including Yoon himself, who are committed to South Korea’s alliance with the US are pitted against forces that appear intent on undermining it.
A March 13 parliamentary motion serves as a telling indicator. Twenty-three opposition lawmakers abstained, while 17 opposition lawmakers voted against a bill to enhance Seoul’s bilateral ties with Washington – an unmistakable reflection of their anti-American sentiments.
At the heart of this crisis is a pivotal upcoming decision by South Korea’s Constitutional Court. President Yoon was impeached by a legislature in the grips of what many consider an anti-America, pro-China, pro-North Korea ideological furor. The court will decide whether to let the impeachment stand or reverse it and restore Yoon to office.
If at least six of the eight justices uphold the impeachment motion, Yoon will be immediately removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days.
His downfall would all but clear the path for leftist, pro-Beijing opposition leader Lee Jae-myung’s ascent to power.
For Washington, the stakes could not be higher. Losing Yoon would strip the US of its most essential ally at a time when countering China has become a bedrock of American foreign policy.
Last November, for instance, President-elect Donald Trump during a call with Yoon sought to deepen collaboration with South Korea’s shipbuilding sector.
The urgency is undeniable – China’s PLA Navy has surpassed the US as the world’s largest naval force, with a 230 times greater building capacity.
South Korea’s second-most-advanced shipbuilding industry in the world can deliver American military and commercial vessels faster and at a fraction of the cost.
The Wall Street Journal reported that South Korea can produce advanced Aegis destroyers for $600 million in 18 months, while the US takes 28 months and $1.6 billion to build a comparable vessel.
Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilder, has already secured two US Navy contracts and it acquired Philly Shipyard last year. The firm is therefore well-positioned to play a key role in revitalizing America’s struggling industry.
Another crucial area is nuclear power. Since taking office, Yoon has successfully revitalized South Korea’s nuclear power industry that was crippled by the previous administration’s anti-nuclear policies.
As Washington seeks to counter China and Russia’s growing global nuclear influence, South Korea’s cutting-edge technology is poised to become a strategic asset.
In January, Seoul and Washington signed a memorandum to enhance cooperation on nuclear power exports and advance civilian nuclear projects – an initiative that could expand significantly under a Trump administration.
South Korea is likewise pivotal in safeguarding key supply chains, especially in rare earth minerals. Korea Zinc, the sole South Korean company capable of producing high-purity antimony– a crucial material for weapons manufacturing – has become indispensable to the US defense industry.
As China tightens its grip on these resources, South Korea’s contribution to maintaining a stable supply will become critical to US national security.
Beyond this, South Korea has become a key player in bolstering US economic security. In 2023, under President Yoon’s leadership, South Korea became the largest foreign investor in the US, directing billions into crucial sectors such as defense, semiconductors, batteries, and energy. These industries are not merely vital to America’s industrial competitiveness but essential to its broader geopolitical contest with China.
However, as the recent parliamentary vote shows, South Korea’s strategic alignment with the US has not gone unchallenged. Notably, the nation has increasingly faced Chinese interference, including cyberattacks, corporate espionage and disinformation campaigns.
Industrial espionage that targets South Korea’s semiconductor sector has resulted in the theft of high-end technology from corporate giants like Samsung and SK. These crimes and others dealt a blow to the country’s economy and the broader US-led effort to maintain a technological edge over China.
In June 2024, South Korean authorities arrested three Chinese nationals caught filming a military base and a US aircraft carrier docked in Busan. The perpetrators turned out to be prominent Chinese Communist Party members, with hundreds of similar images and videos stored in their database.
Despite these growing threats, efforts to counter Chinese interference have faced fierce opposition. Lee Jae-myung’s opposition Democratic Party has consistently blocked measures to strengthen anti-espionage laws, leaving South Korea vulnerable to foreign influence.
For President Trump, the choice is unmistakable. If his administration is serious about challenging the CCP, backing President Yoon’s return is imperative.
Should opposition leader Lee Jae-myung seize the reins, Seoul’s relationship with Washington would undergo a dramatic shift.
Lee is openly and proudly aligned with Beijing. His party’s mainstay agenda – curtailing defense cooperation with Washington, restricting critical technology exports and resisting basic anti-espionage measures – would hinder Trump’s China policies and represent a stark departure from the traditional alliance structure.
The South Korea-US alliance is far from a relic of the past. It’s a vibrant, essential partnership rooted in shared strategic and ideological goals.
Losing Yoon would be more than just a disaster for freedom-loving Koreans. It would also mean losing a cornerstone of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy and paving the way for pro-China forces to seize power in South Korea and beyond.
Kim Sungwon is a South Korean political commentator and educator, the founder of the GroundC Institute. He is also a conservative YouTuber with a following of over 800,000 subscribers.
Everything he said about Republic of Korea is true. The return of President Yoon Suk Yeol is to protect the liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea, and the United States is the biggest ally and ally of the Republic of Korea, so I sincerely hope that the U.S. administration will not ignore the current situation in the Republic of Korea and provide official help for President Yoon Suk Yeol.
From the Security point of view, China has a long history of peace; US has been at war, invasion, occupation and colonisation for over 200 years of its 240 years of existence. And US has no hesitation to dump its allies for its own national interest. US may make an exception to its 5 Eye anglo members. Koreans and Asians are not part of what US would consider as real partners, which can be dispensed with when they are of little use.
China commands the world’s biggest market and its rising GDP can only enhance its market to greater heights. As the world’s biggest trader, helped by its Belt and Route Initiative, China presents a good opportunity for Korea to plug into this world market.
The Korean People should decide on a long-term basis. China is an immediate neighbour, and will remain so in perpetuity. US is 10,000 km away. Korea’s value to US is its strategic location that allows US to contain China. Do the Korean People really want this – hosting 50,000 American troops and providing missile bases? Remember it comes with a heavy price in the event US starts a war.
If you still don’t understand that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legitimate martial law is to eradicate numerous openly active Chinese spies in South Korea and to counter the Chinese Communist forces interfering even in the very foundation of liberal democracy—elections—then you are simply slow on the news.
Chinese Communist Party(CCP) is our greatest threat.
What you’re trying to say is that it’s dangerous for the U.S. military to stay in South Korea, right? What would happen if the U.S. troops left?
Even now, the whole country is still noisy due to espionage such as security, technology, politics, and voting from the Communist Party of China, so wouldn’t they conduct more disgusting intelligence operations to eat the Republic of Korea?
For example, the Republic of Korea currently has a spy law, but the Democratic Party of Korea strictly opposes the expansion of what is limited to North Korea to “foreign or foreign organizations.” It was proposed by the Democratic Party in 2024, but it was blocked by Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, a close aide of the Moon Jae In. It keep getting criticized for being a Proposing a bill for show.
{Trump’s best bet to counter China is backing South Korea’s Yoon}
It is far simpler and safer just by becoming Amelika’s 52nd state!
only if american wants it
So basically bet on a dictator wannabee who tried and failed to overthrow democracy? Then why not bet on Kim Jong Un? At least he is a successful dictator compared to Yoon.
overthrow democracy? u live on another planet?
Are you saying Yoon didn’t try to overthrow the democracy? He tried to take over the power for himself, and arrest lawmakers, if that is not a coup, then what is?
If he did try to overthrow democracy. If he was truly intent on it, why even follow the order of parliament to rescind his martial law? Take over the power? He is the sitting president. What more power those he need? Give me one solid evidence that Yoon tried to arrest lawmakers.
Yoon’s return could be very risky, and even if he returns whether he can fully function as a president is dubious. But what’s riskier is the leftist’s rise to power in Korea. So America is left with bitter choices. If I were Trump, I’d with the former, the less riskier option.