Something dangerous is happening in South Korea. And it’s not just politics as usual. It’s a sharp turn away from freedom—and straight toward government control that looks an awful lot like communism. Veterans like me have seen what happens when power gets concentrated in the hands of a few. It never ends well. What we’re seeing now in South Korea should be a warning to the whole free world.
President Lee Jae-myung’s administration just rolled out a sweeping plan to reorganize the government. They say it’s about making things more “efficient.” But don’t be fooled. Behind the talk of saving money and streamlining is something much more serious. This isn’t just a policy change—it’s a full-blown power grab.
First, they’re tearing apart the country’s independent prosecution system. The old system had prosecutors who could go after corruption—even inside the government. Now, Lee wants to replace that with two new agencies. One handles indictments and the other handles investigations. But here’s the catch: both are controlled by ministries inside the executive branch. That means the people in power will be investigating and charging themselves—or more likely, their enemies. That’s not justice. That’s dictatorship 101.
Second, they’re grabbing control of the media. The Korea Communications Commission is being replaced with a new Broadcasting and Media Commission. This new office will control all broadcasting and telecom in the country. It’ll be chaired by someone at the level of a deputy prime minister—meaning it answers straight to the top. This gives the president control over what people in South Korea see, hear, and say. That’s not freedom of the press. It’s censorship.
Third, and maybe most frightening, they’re putting the national statistics agency directly under the Prime Minister. This means the government can control the country’s data—like unemployment numbers, inflation rates, and economic performance. In communist regimes like Mao’s China and the Soviet Union, fake statistics were used to lie to the people. They told the public everything was fine—right up until the economy collapsed or people starved. That’s the danger of letting the government decide what the “truth” is.
When you put all of this together, it forms a closed loop of control. The government decides what the numbers say. The media spreads the message. And the prosecutors make sure no one challenges it. That’s the kind of tight grip you see in countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam. Not in a free democracy like South Korea—at least not until now.
Let’s be clear: this is not a normal reform. It’s not about cutting costs or making government work better. It’s about silencing critics, jailing opponents, and keeping power in the hands of one party. And it’s already happening. President Lee has started jailing members of the opposition. That should send a chill down your spine.
Why should Americans care? Because South Korea is one of our closest allies. Our troops have stood shoulder to shoulder with theirs for decades. We’ve helped protect their freedom, and they’ve helped protect ours. But if they fall to authoritarianism, we lose a key partner in the fight for liberty around the world.
We know how this story ends if it’s allowed to go on. We’ve seen it in Cuba. We’ve seen it in Venezuela. Once freedom is lost, it’s hard—sometimes impossible—to get it back. South Korea is at a crossroads. And the free world needs to pay attention.
As a veteran, I believe in standing up for liberty—whether it’s on the battlefield or in the halls of government. What’s happening in South Korea isn’t just their problem. It’s a test for all of us. Will we speak up while we still can? Or will we let another country fall under the shadow of tyranny?
The choice is clear. And the time is now.
