Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol hold banners in front of the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, Seoul, as the prearrest interrogation of Yoon is underway, Saturday. Joint Press Corps

The profits of far-right YouTubers supporting President Yoon Suk Yeol have nearly doubled since his botched martial law imposition on Dec. 3.

Concerns are growing that the inflammatory rhetoric of extremist video bloggers could escalate into a security threat akin to terrorism, as their provocations played a key role in Sunday's violent intrusion into the Seoul Western District Court.

According to data submitted by the YouTube analytics platform Playboard to Rep. Chung Il-young of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday, six of the top seven far-right YouTube channels saw their Superchat revenues surge by an average of 2.1 times in December compared to the previous month, coinciding with the Dec. 3 martial law declaration.

Superchat is a feature that allows viewers to financially support YouTubers through live chat during broadcasts, with donation amounts ranging from 500,000 won ($344.7) to 10 million won per episode.

One channel, the largest among far-right YouTubers with 1.62 million subscribers, saw its Superchat earnings jump to 125 million won in December, a 65.92 million won increase from the previous month.

Another channel with 340,000 subscribers saw a 2.5-fold increase in earnings, rising from 8.68 million won in November to 21.87 million won in December.

It is worth noting that all seven of the top-earning YouTube channels in terms of Superchat revenues also receive donations through separate accounts, supplementing their YouTube earnings. Of these, five channels collect funds through individual accounts, although the total amount of these donations has not been disclosed.

"Far-right YouTubers are making enormous profits by spreading false information and inciting indiscriminate hatred," the lawmaker said.

"The National Tax Service must act swiftly and thoroughly to investigate whether the various sources of income for these channels are being reported and taxed properly."

The exterior walls, windows and other facilities of the Seoul Western District Court are damaged after supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol breached the premises and engaged in acts of violence following his arrest, Sunday. Yonhap

Extremist YouTubers fuel violence

Concerns are growing that the inflammatory rhetoric and agitation of extremist YouTubers could pose a serious security threat.

Sunday's violent attack on the Seoul Western District Court was unprecedented in Korea, fueled by extreme supporters and far-right YouTubers who were outraged over the issuance of an arrest warrant for the president.

Over the course of two days, tens of thousands of people gathered near the court, yet no official applications for demonstrations were submitted, according to police.

Most of the demonstrators gathered in an ad hoc fashion, without clear organizational leadership, and were instead mobilized by calls to action from YouTubers.

During a rally in Gwanghwamun on Saturday, outspoken pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon urged his followers, saying, "We will punish those who do not show up at the [Seoul] Western District Court." After his statement, a large crowd moved to the court.

A YouTuber with over a million subscribers also encouraged followers to gather in front of the court.

Bae In-kyu, leader of New Men's Solidarity, has been a vocal opponent of Yoon's impeachment and has encouraged young men in their 20s and 30s to participate in the rallies. Reportedly, he has been systematically promoting comments that defend the rioters involved in the court intrusion while criticizing the judiciary.

Choi Chang-ryul, a political science professor at Yong In University, warned that YouTubers disseminating biased views is a key factor behind incidents like the recent intrusion at the court.

"The negative influence of YouTubers is more significant than expected," he said. "There is a vicious cycle where they incite others for profit, spreading provocative and biased narratives. Voters then consume this content and become even more polarized."

Choi noted that this trend is prevalent across both extreme conservative and progressive groups.

"Many citizens have developed a habit of getting their information from YouTube, further deepening polarization as they move away from traditional media and become influenced by disinformation," he said.

The growing involvement of politicians in this ecosystem is also a concern, as many now actively appear on YouTube platforms.

"If no legal measures or institutional safeguards are put in place, this polarization is likely to worsen," Choi added.

Meanwhile, police have indicated that far-right YouTubers could be investigated in connection with the mass violence carried out by supporters of Yoon at the court.

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Lee Ho-young called the incident a "serious challenge to the rule of law" and vowed strict action against illegal and violent protests.