Former South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the United States, pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party is infiltrating the South Korean government and is the driving force behind the surge in Chinese immigration.
Last week, former South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn emphasized at CPAC held in Texas that the South Korean government is relaxing its strict immigration regulations to allow more Chinese immigrants to enter the country. This policy shift has raised concerns among South Korean conservatives.
Hwang Kyo-ahn bluntly stated that left-wing leaders in South Korea, such as former President Moon Jae-in and current President Lee Jae-myung, are the ones facilitating the influx of more immigrants, mainly ethnic Chinese, into South Korea.
“They are opening up the borders, primarily targeting Chinese people. This policy shift has met opposition from the conservatives,” Hwang said.
Many South Koreans suspect that some Chinese immigrants may be spies for the CCP, Hwang pointed out. He noted that the immigration policy promoted by the left-wing government provides a strategic pathway for the CCP to infiltrate this traditional US ally.
While Chinese immigrants to South Korea have been increasing since the 1980s, in recent years, there has been a surge in Chinese immigration to South Korea.
According to South Korean government data, as of October 2025, the number of foreign residents in South Korea reached a record high of over 2.8 million, accounting for more than 5% of the total population, surpassing the previous record of 2.65 million set in November 2024, with the majority being ethnic Chinese.
The challenges brought by the immigration wave are not exclusive to South Korea. Democratic countries in Europe and the United States are also facing anti-immigration sentiments and have tightened related policies. For instance, during the Biden administration, there was a significant increase in illegal immigration to the United States, leading President Trump to tighten immigration policies, including strengthening southern border control. According to the US Census Bureau data from January 2025, the proportion of foreign-born population in the US reached a historical high of about 16% (the last peak was 14.8% in 1890, mainly from Eastern European immigrants).
Hwang Kyo-ahn pointed out that the current government led by Lee Jae-myung is welcoming foreign immigrants through policy adjustments.
The Lee Jae-myung government is promoting visa facilitation, extending the validity period of multiple-entry visas for Chinese citizens. The maximum validity period for multiple-entry visas for residents of 14 Chinese cities, including Beijing, will be extended from the current 5 years to up to 10 years.
Critics have pointed out that the CCP does not grant equal treatment to South Korean citizens. Multiple-entry visas for South Korean citizens going to China usually have a validity period of 6 months to 1 year, up to a maximum of about 3 years.
Last October, Lee Jae-myung ordered a severe crackdown on gatherings deemed “anti-China” and against foreigners, labeling such actions as “self-destructive behavior that damages national interests and the country’s image without benefit.”
Epoch Times has reached out to the South Korean government for comment.
Liberal leaders in South Korea (such as Moon Jae-in, who governed South Korea from 2017 to 2022) have always maintained an open attitude towards foreign workers and multiculturalism. They advocate for the need for more foreign nationals to alleviate labor shortages, low birth rates, and promote a global integration agenda.
On the other hand, conservative leaders like former President Yoon Suk-yeol advocate for strengthening relations with the United States, ensuring border security, and prioritizing the rights of South Korean citizens.
Hwang Kyo-ahn highlighted that conservatives are concerned about the CCP’s influence in South Korea, and this infiltration has already taken root within the large Chinese community in South Korea. Conservative lawmakers during Yoon Suk-yeol’s tenure in power had pushed for stricter controls on the voting rights of foreign permanent residents, especially Chinese nationals.
This political environment has caused significant turmoil. In December 2024, Yoon Suk-yeol declared a state of emergency nationwide and implemented martial law, citing the need to protect the country from “anti-national” forces and address the government’s stalemate due to the opposition controlling the parliament, which led to his impeachment by the parliament and the Constitutional Court.
Yoon Suk-yeol was officially removed from office in April 2025. By early 2026, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of “instigating rebellion.”
Hwang Kyo-ahn mentioned that he himself was detained and investigated in 2025 due to his involvement in the controversial events of December 3, 2024, which were labeled as “inciting rebellion,” but a judge later revoked the arrest warrant against him.
At the CPAC conference, Hwang Kyo-ahn pointed out that in South Korea, the freedoms of many citizens are being suppressed, and the parliament has been taken over by pro-CCP forces. He criticized the judicial reform of the Lee Jae-myung government, warning that it could harm judicial independence and threaten the separation of powers.
Hwang Kyo-ahn accused the CCP regime of interfering in South Korea’s elections. He stated that over 90% of South Koreans oppose the CCP.
He also called on the US Congress to pass a resolution urging the South Korean government to release former President Yoon Suk-yeol immediately and clarify the role played by the CCP in the case. Additionally, he requested a joint investigation between the US and South Korea into whether the CCP has invaded the election systems of both countries.