Foreign media is focusing on the placards held by supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The placard reads 'STOP THE STEAL' in English, a slogan used by supporters of Donald Trump after he lost the 2020 presidential election.
According to the Korea Right Movement Headquarters (KRMH) and the Neo Liberal Solidarity, which are holding a rally in front of the Hannam-dong residence on the 6th, 'Stop the Steal' placards voluntarily made by supporters of President Yoon began appearing at the end of last month. Before that, the majority of placards featured slogans such as 'Oppose Impeachment,' 'Arrest Lee Jae-myung,' and 'Fraudulent Election OUT,' made by the organizers. An official from KRHM noted, 'People in their 20s and 30s voluntarily came out with placards.'
'Stop the Steal' is a term used by Trump's supporters, claiming election fraud after his defeat to President Joe Biden in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The expression implies that Trump actually won but the victory was stolen by the Democrats.
Although allegations of fraudulent elections were openly claimed during the 'Taegeukgi rally,' 'Stop the Steal' placards only appeared at the end of last month. This seems related to President Yoon's assertion of election fraud suspicions in a national address on the 12th of last month. The National Election Commission countered, stating, 'Allegations of election fraud have been proven unfounded through judicial rulings.'
With the appearance of the familiar slogan in South Korea, foreign media like BBC featured photographs of it. Reuters noted on the 3rd (local time) that 'Supporters of President Yoon have adopted the 'Stop the Steal' slogan, hoping for Trump's help.' However, it pointed out that Trump has not made any comments regarding Yoon's current situation.
The Guardian reported, 'When asked about evidence of election fraud to supporters of President Yoon holding 'Stop the Steal' placards, no one could provide an answer.' The New York Times (NYT) spoke with Shin Eun-joo, 52, who was holding a 'Stop the Steal' placard, and the individual said, 'I believe in election fraud. YouTube is the evidence.'
Elon Musk, the designated co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Tesla's CEO, posted a photo of a supporter of President Yoon holding a 'Stop the Steal' placard on his X (formerly Twitter) account, writing 'WOW.' However, Musk did not express his opinion on South Korean politics.
President Yoon's side is known to have claimed in a response submitted to the Constitutional Court that the impeachment trial is unnecessary, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's 'Trump v. United States' ruling in July last year. At that time, the Supreme Court stated that official acts by a former president during their tenure should be immune from criminal prosecution, and 'the court cannot review this.'
This was the first ruling on the criminal immunity of a U.S. president, decided by a 6-3 vote. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who dissented, argued, 'This means even ordering the 'Navy SEALs' to kill political opponents or organizing a military coup to retain power would be immune.'
President Yoon's side invoked this ruling, asserting that Yoon exercised state emergency authority under Article 77 of the Constitution, with the president having the discretion to determine an emergency situation. However, the Korean Constitution stipulates that immunity does not apply for treason or rebellion.