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Benjamin A. Engel

@benjaminaengel.bsky.social

9.3K followers 510 following 1.6K posts

Assistant Professor of Korean Studies at Dankook University. Research interests: Korean modern history, US-Korea relations, democracy and human rights

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · Dec 29

In this short reflection article for the Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, I focus on the impact of the New Right and election conspiracies among the Korean far right on Yoon's decision to declare martial law. 1/

apjjf.org/2024/12/engel

Making Sense of South Korea’s Senseless Martial Law Declaration - The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus

apjjf.org

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Reposted by Benjamin A. Engel

masonrichey.bsky.social @masonrichey.bsky.social · 23h

isanet-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

On Nov. 3, I'll be moderating an APEC 2025 retrospective webinar, a partnership of ISA and the Korea International Studies Association. Experts joining: Michelle Lee (WaPo), Peter Ward (Sejong Inst.), and Moamen Gouda (HUFS). Register at link, if interested.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: APEC Summit 2025 Rundown: Outcomes, Surprises, and the Way Forward. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Co-sponsored by the Korean International Studies Association. The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ meeting takes place on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 with the world in economic and political disar...

isanet-org.zoom.us

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 5d

It was great talking with Noah Sneider as he prepared this awesome look at competing views of history in South Korea.

www.economist.com/1843/2025/10...

How two duelling history influencers explain South Korea’s polarised politics

The country’s recent brush with martial law has deep roots

www.economist.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 6d

These protests are just as much about actual anti-Chinese sentiment as they are getting the Lee Jae Myung administration to crack down on them to fuel their claims that Lee is authoritarian and China’s man in South Korea. Sounds like Lee is going to oblige them

www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffai...

President orders ministries to stamp out anti-China rallies, citing harm to nat'l image - The Korea Times

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday ordered a crackdown on anti-China rallies in Seoul, saying the demonstrations are tarnishing the nation's image...

www.koreatimes.co.kr

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 7d

Congrats~

Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 7d

Another funny thing is, just like Nixon, Trump wouldn't care about democratic backsliding in Korea either. Nixon told Kim Jong Pil in 1972 after Park had declared martial law that "he understood" Park's decision and wouldn't pressure him to return to a democratic constitution. end

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 7d

But in reality it was much more than that. Park knew the people would be angry at the chaebol getting so many benefits he would need a strong hand to keep the protests down. This is why one of his closet advisors on heavy chemical industrialization (HCI) said "Yushin was HCI and HCI was Yushin." 3/

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 7d

This isn't hyperbole either. Park Chung Hee justified his authoritarian Yushin constitution in the name of the weakening of the US security commitment after the announcement of the Nixon doctrine because society needed to be "stable" in the face of communism. 2/

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 7d

Quite the column. Because the American security commitment is weakening we need to deregulate the economy and help the chaebol just like Park Chung Hee. One step away from because the American commitment is weakening we need an authoritarian like Park Chung Hee. 1/

www.chosun.com/opinion/colu...

[선우정 칼럼] 反美는 박정희 대통령처럼

선우정 칼럼 反美는 박정희 대통령처럼 그는 도구적 반미주의를 지혜롭게 쓴 지도자였다 미국을 극복하기 위해 중화학에 승부를 걸었다 싸구려 반미와 반기업으로 무엇을 얻겠다는 건가

www.chosun.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 15d

“Instead of the stars and stripes, he pinned a gold medallion in the shape of President Trump’s profile”

Koreanists watching the news coming out of America as it all sounds way to familiar…

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/s...

a close up of a stuffed monkey wearing a green shirt and blue jeans

ALT: a close up of a stuffed monkey wearing a green shirt and blue jeans

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Benjamin A. Engel

Dr. Mark P. Barry ☯︎ @drmarkpbarry.bsky.social · 20d

Jon Stewart's Post-Kimmel Primer on Free Speech in the Glorious Trump Era | The Daily Show www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GXN...

Jon Stewart's Post-Kimmel Primer on Free Speech in the Glorious Trump Era | The Daily Show

YouTube video by The Daily Show

www.youtube.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21d

Just really sad to see what Trump is doing to America. Business decisions about cancel culture are one thing. Having the FCC policing political speech is another.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/b...

ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Off Air for Charlie Kirk Comments

www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 21d

Anger at the US for the ICE raid on a Korean factory continues to boil. First-term lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party demand an official apology from the US and that Trump respect the KORUS FTA and end the tariffs on Korea. Pretty strong words

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09...

Rookie DP lawmakers demand U.S. apology over ICE raid

First-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party demanded the U.S. government formally apologize and take responsible follow-up measures for the confinement of 300 Korean workers in a U.S. Immigration and...

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

None of this is new to Americans really. But for the Korean public which generally has less interest in domestic US politics this is shocking. For the older generation, the US is the country that used to criticized Korea’s human rights record. Hard to believe it’s the other way around now. End

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

Reports from Koreans detained by ICE are shocking Korea making this response from the Lee administration necessary. Bruised wrists from handcuffs and zip ties. Force tuberculosis shots. Slow response to medical emergency by facility staff. 1/

m.yonhapnewstv.co.kr/news/MYH2025...

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

Good background info if you’re curious about the connections between the American and Korean far-right. Importantly, Annie Chan is the somewhat silent or at least lesser known funder of much of the activity of KCPAC and other Korean far-right activities in the US

english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...

Korean CPAC: The organization behind growing alliance of Korean, American far rights

As election fraud theories proliferate across borders, the Hankyoreh looks at the growing institutional network between the Korean and American far right

english.hani.co.kr

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Reposted by Benjamin A. Engel

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 22d

This is quickly mushrooming into a real international incident

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

There was a brief moment after the summit that Korea seemed like it was going to try, but yea. The raid of the plant and treatment of workers seems to have really changed things. Nukes have been on the table in a very serious way for a couple years and this may be the push over the edge.

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

Cho isn’t saying anything I think most Koreans don’t know already and that most rational Americans will admit. Still, it’s surprising to hear it out loud despite having said previously I think the Korean govt needs to be preparing for life after America. Seems like that is ongoing. End

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

He also said while answering questions at the National Assembly “the US and Europe have been struggling with the migration issue and the US seems to have changed some.” Also that tariff negotiations were ongoing because “American proposals were hard to accept.” 2/

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 22d

One of the first public signs the Korean govt is coming to grips with the new reality in the US. Fon Min Cho Hyun: “I could feel this is no longer the US which had really cooperated well with allies and friendly nations in the past.” 1/

www.joongang.co.kr/article/2536...

“동맹과 협력하던 美 아니다” 외교 수장 조현, 이례적 공개 비판 | 중앙일보

조현 외교부 장관이 16일 "과거에 많은 동맹국이나 우방국들에 상당히 좋은 협력을 해 오던 미국이 아니라는 걸 실감하고 있다"고 말했다. 조 장관은 이날 국회 외교·통일·안보 분야 대정부질문에서 미국 내 한국인 근로자 구금 사태와 관련해 "탈냉전 이후에 30년이 지나고 나서 국제 정세가 변하고 있었고, 또 유럽이나 미국이나 이민 문제로 몸살을 앓으면서 미국...

www.joongang.co.kr

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 23d

Nobody knows why the assassin did it, but it no longer matters. Only half of America will believe what the investigators find now because the shooting has political meaning well beyond what actually happened. MAGA needs this as their excuse to round up opponents.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...

White House Plans Broad Crackdown on Liberal Groups

www.nytimes.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 23d

As a parent it’s hard because you know the older folks are just trying to be kind. But the kids are also doing what there supposed to do. I’ve seen older Koreans get visibly upset when my son ignores them but he’s right. Not sure how you do it but elderly Koreans need to be reeducated on this.

Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 23d

Young Koreans are taught like most kids not to talk to strangers or accept gifts like candy, but the older Korean generation still finds it perfectly acceptable to try and talk to kids and give them things. It’s huge generation norm gap. 1/

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09...

Ulsan police look into report of attempt to lure children with ice cream

Police in Ulsan received a report that a woman allegedly tried to lure three elementary school students in an apartment complex in Nam District by saying she would buy them ice cream.

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 24d

Korea has also seen a rise in political violence over the last several years including the attempted assassination of Lee Jae Myung in Jan 2024 and the storming of a courthouse in Jan 2025. Kirk's assassination seems to be curating a sense of victimhood among the international far-right movement.

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Benjamin A. Engel @benjaminaengel.bsky.social · 24d

Jeon Han-gil, one of the most visible far-right figures in Korea who actively protested against Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and arrest, at an event in the US on Saturday he said he bought a bulletproof vest and feared for his life after Charlie Kirk's assassination 1/

www.chosun.com/english/nati...

Jeon Han-gil accuses Google of silencing conservatives via revenue suspension

www.chosun.com

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