How Maga support is firing up the far-right in South Korea and Japan
Charlie Kirk’s visits to Seoul and Tokyo just before his killing shone a spotlight on the growing relations between movements on both sides of the Pacific
The Make America Great Again (Maga) movement started in the 2010s, promising to bring back the old glory of the US empire, making the country a global leader in manufacturing, innovation and technology. However, at its heart, Maga was more than that. It focused on anti-immigration and anti-globalisation sentiments, as well as supposedly promoting Christian values.
Seeing the success of Maga movements in the US, similar movements took hold in countries such as South Korea and Japan.
In an attempt to popularise conservatism in these two countries, far-right movements borrowed heavily from the Maga script, albeit with some changes. Unlike the US, where Maga emphasised opposition to globalisation, the conservative movements in Korea and Japan focused on gender, immigration and political grievances. These movements built themselves on the grievances of young men in their 20s and 30s who feel neglected by mainstream politicians.