Controversial US Professor Claims Yoon Shouldn't Be in Prison, Calls Lee's Government 'Anti-US, Pro-China'

The Explosive Claims That Divided Seoul

Did you know that a former US diplomat's visit to Seoul has ignited one of the most heated political debates in recent Korean history? Morse Tan, a Korean-American professor at Liberty University and former US State Department ambassador, made shocking statements during his controversial visit to South Korea in July 2025. At a rally held at Seoul Station Plaza on July 18, Tan boldly declared that former President Yoon Suk Yeol doesn't belong in prison and accused current President Lee Jae Myung of running an anti-American, pro-Chinese, and pro-North Korean regime.

The timing of Tan's statements couldn't have been more explosive. Just hours after a Seoul court rejected Yoon's appeal for release from detention, Tan stood before thousands of supporters and proclaimed, 'Former President Yoon should not be in prison in the first place'. His words sent shockwaves through Korean political circles and sparked fierce debates across social media platforms and online communities.

Who Is Morse Tan and Why His Words Matter

To understand the weight of these controversial statements, we need to examine who Morse Tan really is. Born Dan Hyun-myung in Korea, Tan served as the US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice during Donald Trump's first administration. Currently, he holds the position of senior executive director at Liberty University's Center for Law and Government.

However, Tan has become increasingly known for promoting conspiracy theories about Korean elections. He has repeatedly claimed that China interfered in South Korea's recent elections, particularly the June 3 presidential election that brought Lee Jae Myung to power. These allegations have been consistently dismissed by Korean courts and the National Election Commission, yet they continue to circulate among far-right groups. What makes Tan's involvement particularly controversial is his role with the International Election Monitoring Team (IEMT), which he uses to lend credibility to his fraud claims.

The Seoul Station Rally That Shocked Korea

The July 18 rally at Seoul Station Plaza became a flashpoint for Korea's deepest political divisions. Organized by far-right groups including Truth Forum, the event drew approximately 4,000 participants according to unofficial police estimates. The crowd chanted slogans like 'fraudulent election' and 'fake president Lee Jae Myung step down' while waving Korean and American flags.

Tan's speech went far beyond typical political criticism. He accused Lee's administration of treating Yoon as 'our real enemy' instead of North Korea, questioning why the current government doesn't label North Korea as the enemy but instead targets the former president. The most inflammatory moment came when Tan declared Lee's government to be fundamentally 'anti-American, pro-Chinese, and pro-North Korean'. These accusations resonated strongly with conservative supporters who have long harbored suspicions about Lee's foreign policy orientation.

Online Communities Explode in Fierce Debate

Korean online communities erupted in heated discussions following Tan's statements. On conservative forums and YouTube channels, supporters praised Tan as a truth-teller willing to expose what they see as Lee's dangerous foreign policy alignments. Comments on these platforms frequently echoed Tan's themes, with users expressing fears about Chinese influence and questioning the legitimacy of recent elections.

However, progressive communities and mainstream forums showed strong opposition to Tan's visit and statements. University students organized counter-protests, with Seoul National University students issuing statements condemning Tan for 'fomenting xenophobia' and 'sowing distrust in Korea's democratic order'. On platforms like Nate Pann and DC Inside, many users criticized Tan as a foreign interference figure who was exploiting Korea's political divisions for his own agenda. The generational divide was particularly stark, with younger Koreans more likely to view Tan's conspiracy theories skeptically.

The Legal Storm: Investigation and Backlash

Tan's visit to Korea became even more controversial when Seoul Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into his activities. The probe was triggered by complaints from the Freedom Korea National Defense Corps, a conservative civic group that accused Tan of defamation. Specifically, they challenged his claims made at a Washington DC press conference in June, where he alleged that President Lee had been involved in violent crimes during his youth and had served time in juvenile detention.

These allegations directly contradict public records, which show no evidence supporting such serious criminal accusations against Lee. The investigation represents a significant escalation, as it puts a former US government official under Korean legal scrutiny. Tan's planned meeting with detained former President Yoon was also blocked by special counsel investigators, who cited standard procedures for limiting visits to family and legal representatives only. This decision frustrated Yoon's supporters and led to Yoon writing a handwritten letter calling the visit ban 'malicious and foolish'.

Cultural Context: Why These Claims Resonate

For foreign observers, understanding why Tan's statements gained such traction requires grasping Korea's complex political landscape. The country remains deeply divided along ideological lines that trace back to the Korean War era. Conservative voters, particularly older generations, maintain strong anti-communist sentiments and view any perceived coziness with China or North Korea as fundamentally threatening to Korea's security.

Tan's accusations tap into these deep-seated fears. His framing of Lee as 'anti-American' plays into conservative concerns about Korea potentially drifting away from its crucial alliance with the United States. Historical precedents exist for such concerns - during previous progressive administrations, conservatives have worried about shifts toward China and away from traditional US partnerships. The conspiracy theories about Chinese election interference, while unfounded, resonate with voters who already distrust progressive politicians' foreign policy orientations.

International Implications and Future Concerns

The Tan controversy highlights the growing internationalization of political conspiracy theories and election denialism. Just as American far-right narratives have influenced Korean conservatives, Korean election fraud theories now provide ammunition for similar movements globally. This cross-pollination of conspiracy theories represents a significant challenge for democratic institutions in both countries.

The broader implications extend to US-Korea relations as well. Tan's role as a former US government official lends unwarranted credibility to his claims in the eyes of some Korean conservatives. However, his activities also risk damaging the reputation of legitimate US-Korea cooperation and could complicate diplomatic relationships. As Korea continues to navigate complex relationships with China, North Korea, and the United States, figures like Tan who inject unfounded conspiracy theories into these delicate dynamics pose real risks to regional stability and democratic governance.