Has South Korea just witnessed its own January 6 moment?

Protesters who stormed a Seoul court at the weekend may not have worn animal skins, but the similarities are striking

They arrived intent on causing mayhem. The political figurehead they supported had, they said, been the victim of a grave injustice at the hands of the establishment. The ringleaders had soon broken through security cordons, armed with fire extinguishers, steel pipes and police shields, smashing windows and gaining entry to a government building, leaving destruction worth an estimated £400,000 in their wake.

The scene of the riot was not the US Capitol building on 6 January 2021, and the mobs attempting to overturn the rule of law had swapped animal skins and bald eagle masks for hooded down jackets and face masks. But the similarities between Maga ideologues’ attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election, and the far-right protesters who stormed the Seoul western district court building this weekend in support of the impeached South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, are hard to ignore.

Topics

6 dramatic moments that shaped Biden’s presidency

President Biden’s single term in office will be marked by several moments that saw the White House take the spotlight. It began with the pandemic and a raucous State of the Union. Then there was ...
The Hill - 1d
Why SEC Basketball Is Its Own Worst Enemy

The conference’s superiority this season also ensures something else: carnage, a columnist for The Athletic writes.
The New York Times - Jan. 11
South Korea’s real-life political drama

Attempted coup throws spotlight on deep-rooted problems
Financial Times - Jan. 9
A rallying call for democracy in South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempted martial law declaration sparked a wave of collective resistance from citizens, who used protests, social media, and cultural works to express their ...
The Hill - Jan. 6
Who Owns Jan. 6?

Trump is trying to rewrite history, but history may not comply.
The New York Times - Jan. 6
South Korea’s construction deals surpass $1trn globally

Yahoo News - Jan. 3
South Korea’s Dueling Protests

A standoff between the impeached president’s security team and officials seeking to detain him was echoed on the streets outside the presidential residence.
The New York Times - Jan. 3
'The scene was just horrific' - witnesses tell of carnage

Revellers had been celebrating the new year when a driver ploughed his pick-up truck into a large crowd.
BBC News - Jan. 1

More from The Guardian

Trump to declare national emergency at US-Mexico border as part of day one executive actions – live

President-elect expected to sign several executive actions immediately after taking office. Biden pardons Fauci and Milley in effort to guard against potential ‘revenge’ by Trump Trump ...
The Guardian - 24m
Elon Musk’s ‘Doge’ expected to be sued moments after Trump’s swearing-in

Lawsuit will challenge legality of ‘department of government efficiency’, by alleging it violates federal rules. Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) program is expected to be ...
The Guardian - 2h
Freezing rain dampens mood in Washington ahead of Trump’s inauguration – photo essay

Photographer Jordan Gale documents preparations for 60th presidential inauguration, showing a US poised and polarised between hope and fear. Washington is a city on edge. Concrete barriers, ...
The Guardian - 2h
As Trump is inaugurated, activists ask: is there any point in mass protest?

Some say Trump part two needs a new strategy as ‘the novelty of mass mobilization has kind of worn off’. Prominent leftwing activists across the US say a second Trump administration demands new ...
The Guardian - 7h
Gaza ceasefire latest: Hamas says people of Gaza will ‘rise again’ and rebuild territory

The search for thousands of people buried under rubble has started as the ceasefire in Gaza enters its second day. Full report: Palestinians celebrate as prisoners freed The Spanish ...
The Guardian - 26m