False rumors about police deployed to protest sites is spreading among right-wing social media users, fueling conspiracy theories ahead of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling.
On social media platforms such as X, photos of mobile police squad officers with long or bleached hair have spread, with claims alleging that such police are not Korean, but Chinese nationals.
Referring to a screenshot of what appears to be the AI-generated response of an unknown large language model tool about police grooming regulations, one post on X claimed that a police officer must have “neatly groomed hair,” with male police officers having hair that is no longer than 7 centimeters at the front and does not touch the ears or the collar. The screenshot says police are also not allowed to dye their hair any color except black.
There was no source given for the screenshot.
However, Article 5 of the Police Officials Service Regulations only states that “officers must maintain a neat appearance and dress appropriately to uphold their dignity,” without specifying any detailed rules about hairstyles. A police official also confirmed to The Korea Herald that there are no internal rules that prohibit officers from having long or dyed hair.
Despite the actual rules differing substantially from those in the screenshot, posts claiming police officers with long or bleached hair are “not real police officers” are still circulating on social media.
“A Korean police officer with long hair? As a South Korean national with common sense, this man is 100 percent not a Korean police officer, but is Chinese,” wrote one user on X.
Recently, conspiracy theories have emerged on social media platforms in Korea, such as far-right YouTube channels and online forums, claiming that the police are “infiltrated by leftists” or “fake Chinese agents.”
Anti-China sentiment is common among right-wing circles, along with claims that China is "interfering" in Korean politics, economics and media narratives.
Supporters of the suspended president have clashed with law enforcement during their protests, accusing police of unjustly suppressing their demonstrations while being lenient toward groups they perceive as "pro-China" or "commies."
Experts warn that fake news, especially those that target law enforcement, should be regulated, as it can lead to the “weakening of public trust in law enforcement and the police force.”
“Fake news ridiculing or undermining law enforcement can diminish police authority and public trust in law enforcement,” Kwak Dae-kyung, a professor in Dongguk University’s Department of Police Administration, told The Korea Herald.
“The spread of such misinformation targeting law enforcement must be countered, as it could create social disorder and hinder effective law enforcement efforts. The repeated spread of distorted information about minor issues surrounding the police shouldn’t be left ignored, as it could ultimately extend to a general distrust of the entire police force, which could significantly weaken the ability of law enforcement to uphold social order," he said.
lee.jungjoo@heraldcorp.com
