This paper examines the growing role of Sinophobia and Christianity in South Korean political discourse, arguing that anti-China sentiment—particularly in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial declaration of martial law—is not merely a reaction to geopolitical tensions or economic anxieties, but a religiously and ideologically charged phenomenon. What began as fringe rhetoric among far-right circles has now entered the political mainstream, where it reinforces Christian nationalist worldviews and pro-American ideological commitments. These narratives not only shape South Korea’s internal political landscape but also influence its foreign policy orientations.
The paper explores three interconnected dimensions of this development. First, it analyzes how Sinophobic discourse has targeted the Chinese diaspora in South Korea, portraying them as economic threats and as a persistent political “other” accused of undermining national sovereignty and democratic processes. Such rhetoric echoes broader patterns of racialized nationalism and exclusion.
Second, the paper investigates how Sinophobia has supported President Yoon’s alignment with U.S.-led regional security strategies. Within the context of the trilateral security pact between South Korea, the United States, and Japan, Christian nationalist groups have framed this alliance not only as a geopolitical necessity but as a divinely ordained mission to defend civilization against communist threats—an ideological position heavily influenced by transnational conservative Christian movements.
Third, the paper examines the integration of Sinophobia into domestic political reform narratives, particularly within the pro-martial law discourse labeled Kyeŏm intended for kyemong (“martial law for reform”). This rhetoric positions authoritarian intervention as a moral and national imperative.
Ultimately, the paper argues that Sinophobia in South Korea operates as a powerful ideological tool—weaponized to justify authoritarian measures, reconfigure regional alliances, and redefine nationalist identity through a religious and anti-communist lens.
This paper argues that the rise of Sinophobia in South Korea, particularly following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration, is not merely reactionary but deeply rooted in religious and ideological discourse. Once limited to far-right circles, anti-China rhetoric now permeates mainstream politics, reinforcing Christian nationalism and pro-American sentiment while shaping domestic and foreign policy. The paper explores three dimensions of this phenomenon. First, it examines how the Chinese diaspora is framed as both economic and political threats. Second, it analyzes how Sinophobia underpins Yoon’s pro-U.S., anti-China stance, especially within the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security alliance, which Christian nationalists portray as divinely sanctioned. Third, it investigates how Sinophobia informs political reform narratives, particularly in the pro-martial law discourse of Kyeŏm intended for kyemong ("martial law for reform"). Ultimately, the paper reveals how Sinophobia is weaponized to justify authoritarian measures, reorient geopolitical alliances, and redefine South Korea’s nationalist and religious-political landscape.