On February 12, 2026, the South Korean National Assembly was abuzz with revelations that have sent ripples through the nation’s political and media landscape. Park Sun-won, the ruling party’s ranking member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, stepped out of a full committee meeting to brief reporters on a matter that has been simmering since early 2024: the attempted assassination of President Lee Jae-myung. The National Intelligence Service (NIS), Park disclosed, has now officially confirmed that the assailant was influenced by far-right YouTuber Ko Sung-guk—a bombshell that is sparking fierce debate about the role of online extremism in real-world violence.
To understand the significance of this announcement, it’s important to revisit the events of January 2, 2024. On that day, then-Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was visiting Busan’s Gadukdo when he was suddenly attacked by a man identified as Kim, who stabbed him in the left side of the neck. The attack left Lee hospitalized and in need of surgery, shocking the nation and prompting urgent questions about the motives behind the assault and the security of public figures in South Korea. According to multiple sources, including TJB and Channel A, the incident was initially not designated as an act of terror by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and there were allegations that evidence was destroyed or the incident was otherwise downplayed by authorities at the time.
With the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung government, the tide turned. The administration officially designated the attack as a terrorist act and established a dedicated police task force to investigate the incident in depth. This week’s confirmation from the NIS is the most concrete acknowledgment yet of the digital influences that may have shaped the attacker’s actions. As Park Sun-won relayed to the press, “The NIS said, ‘The terrorist was influenced by Ko Sung-guk, that is, it seems certain that he was influenced by far-right YouTubers.’”
The details emerging from the NIS report are striking. Not only did the assailant consume content from Ko Sung-guk’s YouTube channel—known for its far-right political commentary—but the NIS has also confirmed that there was a phone call between the two, and that the terrorist physically visited Ko Sung-guk TV. Park stated, “The NIS said, ‘There was a phone call between them, and it has been partially confirmed that the terrorist actually visited Ko Sung-guk TV.’” These findings suggest a more direct link between online radicalization and violent action than previously acknowledged in Korean politics.
But the story doesn’t end there. According to IMBC and Kyunghyang, after the attack, far-right YouTubers did not retreat into the shadows. Instead, they played a prominent role in shaping public perception of the incident—mocking the victim, spreading claims that the attack was a staged event, and attempting to reframe the narrative to portray the assailant as a victim. As Park explained to reporters, “After the attack on then-Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, far-right YouTubers participated heavily in mocking the victim and framing the event as a false flag; the NIS is collecting evidence and tracking these activities.”
Investigators are also delving into the so-called ‘excuse document’—an eight-page statement written by Kim prior to the attack. The document is under scrutiny for clues about his motives and potential connections to Ko Sung-guk and his online community. As Park recounted, the NIS told the committee, “Investigative agencies are conducting the investigation while the NIS is doing all it can.” The breadth of the investigation suggests authorities are keenly aware of the broader implications for national security and political stability.
The political context surrounding the attack and its aftermath cannot be ignored. During the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, critics from within the ruling party and elsewhere alleged that the incident was not treated with the gravity it deserved, pointing to delays in designating it as terrorism and claims of evidence tampering or minimization. The Lee administration’s approach has been markedly different, not only labeling the event as terrorism but also forming a military-police joint task force to ensure a comprehensive investigation. This shift underscores the deep political divides in South Korea, where accusations of media manipulation, political violence, and institutional failure are never far from the surface.
The revelations have also reignited debate over the influence of digital media and the responsibilities of online content creators. Ko Sung-guk, the YouTuber at the center of the controversy, has long been a polarizing figure, known for his sharply critical takes on liberal politicians and his appeal to a far-right audience. The NIS’s findings—that the attacker was influenced by Ko’s content, had direct contact with him, and even visited his channel—raise urgent questions about the boundaries of free speech, the reach of digital radicalization, and the tools available to authorities to monitor and counteract these trends.
Beyond the immediate investigation, lawmakers are already looking to legislative solutions. According to TJB, Park Sun-won reported that NIS Director Lee Jong-seok expressed strong support for the rapid passage of a revised espionage law. The proposed legislation would expand the definition of espionage to better address diversified security threats, including the protection of sensitive technologies like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Park summarized the urgency: “The NIS said, ‘We will revise enforcement decrees and update operational guidelines so we can actively perform our duty to protect national interests and sensitive core technologies.’” The bill is expected to be considered in the National Assembly’s February session.
All the while, the NIS remains focused on its core mission. When asked about legal consequences for those who participated in mocking the victim or spreading false information after the attack, Park relayed the NIS’s response: “We are collecting evidence and tracking these activities.” The agency’s efforts are not limited to the original assailant but extend to the broader ecosystem of online actors who may have contributed to the toxic environment that enabled or encouraged the attack.
As South Korea grapples with the fallout from this high-profile case, the nation is confronting uncomfortable truths about the intersection of politics, digital media, and violence. The confirmation that a political assassination attempt was influenced by a far-right YouTuber marks a sobering milestone in the country’s ongoing struggle to balance freedom of expression with the need for security and social cohesion. The coming weeks will likely see further developments as investigators dig deeper and lawmakers debate new measures to address the vulnerabilities exposed by this case.
For now, the NIS’s findings have cast a stark light on the dangers of unchecked online extremism and the urgent need for vigilance, both in the halls of government and the digital spaces that shape public opinion and, increasingly, real-world events.