The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) has revealed that the 69-year-old man who attacked President Yoon Suk-yeol in January 2024 was likely influenced by the far-right YouTuber Ko Seong-guk. During a briefing in front of the National Assembly, it was reported that there were communication records between the attacker, Kim, and Ko, which the authorities are investigating further. This incident, known as the Gadeokdo terror case, raised concerns about the influence of extremist views on individuals leading to violent actions.

On January 2, 2024, President Yoon, who was then the leader of the Democratic Party, was attacked by a man wielding a knife while inspecting the site of the new airport at Gadeokdo Island. The NIS's findings suggest that there was possible collaboration or at least communicative interaction between the terrorist and Ko, exacerbating the fear of ideologically motivated violence in South Korea. During the assembly meeting, it was questioned whether Ko had pre-discussed the attack with Kim, with suggestions that further investigations are warranted on the exact nature of their communications.

This incident highlights a worrying trend of far-right influences in online spaces and the potential for these ideas to incite real-world violence. It was mentioned that after the attack, certain far-right commentators and platforms shifted the narrative to mock President Yoon rather than condemn the violence. The government officially classified this case as terrorism under the counter-terrorism laws, which has broader implications for public safety and the policy responses that may follow to counteract extremist ideologies.