Will Yoon’s anti-China rhetoric threaten Seoul-Beijing ties ahead of Xi’s possible Apec visit?

South Korea’s foreign ministry said it is working closely with China to prevent “certain claims” from harming ties

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a hotel as they meet on the sidelines of the Apec summit on November 16, 2024 in Lima, Peru: Photo: dpa

Published: 4:31pm, 17 Feb 2025

President Yoon Suk-yeol’s controversial and unsubstantiated comments about China during his impeachment trial have sparked concerns about their potential effect on the relationship between Seoul and Beijing. This is particularly significant as Chinese President Xi Jinping is considering a visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in October.

Yoon, who is facing impeachment over his brief declaration of martial law late last year, has argued that China’s alleged interference in South Korea’s elections played a role in his decision to impose emergency military rule.

The president’s claims appear to be tapping into anti-China sentiment among his supporters, some of whom have grown increasingly hostile toward Beijing.

On Friday, police arrested a man in his 40s, believed to be a supporter of Yoon, for attempting to storm into the Chinese embassy in Seoul. Dressed as famous comic book character Captain America, the man claimed he was trying to deliver an “anti-China message” to the embassy.

“We express our concern and regret over this incident. We have conveyed these concerns to the Korean government,” the embassy said in a statement.

In recent weeks, dozens of protesters have gathered outside the embassy in Seoul, staging what they call a “Festival to Exterminate Communism,” chanting slogans such as “Xi Jinping out.”