How Charlie Kirk inspired a new Korean right-wing youth movement episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 19, 2026 · 26 MIN

How Charlie Kirk inspired a new Korean right-wing youth movement

from The Global Story · host BBC World Service

A right-wing movement in South Korea is attracting disenchanted young people who are concerned about mass immigration, lawfare and cancel culture. They sport red baseball caps, idolise Charlie Kirk and chant that “Korea is for Koreans”. The movement has rallied around the impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was sentenced last week to five years in jail for abuse of power, obstructing justice and falsifying documents in relation to his failed martial law bid in 2024. Yoon could also face the death penalty over insurrection charges, which he denies. The BBC’s Seoul correspondent, Jake Kwon, explains how South Korea found itself at the heart of a globalised culture war. Producers: Valerio Esposito and Cat Farnsworth Mix: Travis Evans Executive Producer: James Shield Senior news editor: China Collins (Photo: Jintak Han/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 19, 2026

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How Charlie Kirk inspired a new Korean right-wing youth movement

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