A citizen records crowds in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 3, 2024, with a smartphone, after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and mobilized the military to prevent lawmakers from entering the Assembly. Yonhap

The recent political unrest in Korea has brought renewed attention to the role of social media platforms — particularly YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) — in shaping modern democracy. These digital tools serve as a double-edged sword, granting citizens unparalleled access to information while also deepening societal divides.

In particular, the sudden declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol in December was a stark example of the positive impact these media platforms can have on the development of democracy, as well as the risk of polarization.

As Korea grappled with an unprecedented crisis, social media emerged as a lifeline for information dissemination and civic mobilization, reflecting a shift in media dynamics. Experts said the rapid spread of news through these channels enabled citizens to respond swiftly to the unfolding situation, ultimately playing a pivotal role in safeguarding democratic institutions.

On the other hand, this same power of instant communication also highlighted concerns about the spread of misinformation and the potential for these platforms to reinforce existing biases and deepen social rifts.

Martial law troops are surrounded by citizens near the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024, as they try to withdraw after the Assembly passed a motion to lift President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of emergency martial law. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Power of real-time information

On Dec. 3, 2024, when Yoon declared martial law, social media platforms became vital tools for spreading information.

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, livestreamed a video of himself climbing over the wall of the National Assembly to participate in a vote to lift martial law through YouTube, which garnered over 2.4 million views.

This rapid dissemination of information through social media enabled citizens to respond quickly, effectively preventing the military from seizing control of the parliament. Citizens, armed with smartphones, became real-time broadcasters, sharing footage of how military forces are blocking lawmakers' access to the National Assembly.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, livestreams on his way to the National Assembly to lift President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law, Dec. 3, 2024. Captured from Lee's YouTube

The immediacy and scale of public rallies would have been unimaginable in the past, when traditional media like newspapers, radio and television dominated news distribution. The contrast with historical events, such as the press censorship during the May 18 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju in 1980, underscores how the evolving media landscape has transformed public engagement during times of crisis.

Park Sang-byung, a prominent political commentator, observed that the martial law declaration on Dec. 3 marked a pivotal moment in the media landscape. He highlighted how social media platforms have become formidable forces, making it nearly impossible for those in power to control the flow of information.

This democratization of information flow has fundamentally altered the dynamics between the government, traditional media and the public. Citizens are no longer passive consumers of news but active participants in its creation and dissemination, he said.

"During that night, information about soldiers attempting to suppress the National Assembly spread through social media such as X and YouTube faster than traditional media reports," Park said.

"This rapid dissemination enabled citizens to respond swiftly, with messages like ‘I'm in front of the National Assembly now, soldiers with guns have arrived, let's gather quickly to stop them,' spreading rapidly through social networks."

He estimated that the rapid spread of information through social media gives people unparalleled access to information and fosters democracy.

"Korea's high social media adoption rate played a crucial role in mobilizing citizens on the day. The immediacy and diverse perspectives offered by these platforms allowed people to take action quickly, often before traditional media could cover the events comprehensively," the commentator said.

Protesters hold light sticks for K-pop bands in a rally in Seoul, demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol's immediate resignation, Dec. 24, 2024. Yonhap

Professor Choi Jin-ho of Gyeongsang National University's Department of Media Communication agreed.

"If we focus on where to place an emphasis, I would evaluate that these social media tools are having a more positive impact on the development of democracy," he said.

He pointed out that during the martial law crisis, it would have been challenging to gather so many people at the Assembly to counter the martial law forces without social media.

"Traditional media outlets often report news according to their predetermined schedules and intentions," Choi said.

"On that day, we could see how many people were on the ground in real time through YouTube and X. Would it be possible for so many people to gather at the Assembly without these social media platforms?"

Citizens rejoice near the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 4, 2024, after hearing the news of the passage of a bill to lift President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law. Yonhap

Echo chamber concerns

While social media has empowered citizens, it has also contributed to the spread of misinformation and polarization.

A December 2023 study commissioned by the National Assembly Research Service and conducted by the Korean Political Science Association found that YouTube channels covering political events allocated 87 percent of their time to expressing opinions, while only 10 percent was used for presenting facts. The analysis was based on 80 channels and 822 videos.

The research also revealed that 86 percent of the videos included hateful or hostile language and 90 percent of the panelists were from the same political affiliation.

The prevalence of opinion-based content and inflammatory rhetoric raises concerns about the platforms' impact on public discourse and political polarization.

"The algorithm that continually shows content matching one's political orientation can lead to people's tendencies being expressed in extreme ways, which is a concern that needs to be monitored," Choi said.

"This curation of content can create echo chambers, where users are primarily exposed to information that confirms their existing beliefs, potentially exacerbating societal divisions."

On the night martial law was declared, Yoon deployed hundreds of troops to the National Election Commission, ordering the seizure of records. Later, in a public address, he justified the action as part of an investigation into alleged election fraud — a claim widely propagated by extreme conservative YouTubers following the ruling conservative party's defeat.

Citizens record videos on their smartphones at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 3, 2024, the night President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

Speaking about the potential downsides of social media, Park, the political commentator, also warned about the risk of confirmation bias.

"If people only consume content that aligns with their existing views, algorithms will continue to show similar content, potentially trapping users in echo chambers where they believe everyone shares their beliefs," he said.

To mitigate these risks, Park suggested that citizens should balance their social media consumption with content from traditional media outlets that undergo gatekeeping processes.

"While social media has the advantage of showing various aspects of our society, there is also the possibility that citizens may be subjected to confirmation bias. So, it is important to consume traditional medial platform's content produced through the gatekeeping process."