Police officers clash with supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol trying to storm the Seoul Western District Court, early Sunday, in protest of a judge's decision to issue his arrest warrant. Yonhap

An unprecedented mob attack on a Seoul court by staunch supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol early Sunday shocked the nation. One of the surprises from the violent protest was the involvement of young men — an age group not traditionally associated with Korea's far-right conservative rallies.

For years, Korea's conservative protests have been dominated by people in their 60s and 70s, who are often seen as more right-leaning. They have rallied to voice loyal support for embattled conservative presidents, including former President Park Geun-hye during her impeachment proceedings in 2017, and now the current leader.

However, the age demographic of the violent protesters who stormed the Seoul Western District Court, angered by a decision to issue an arrest warrant for Yoon, turned out to be much younger.

Police data revealed that more than half of the 90 individuals apprehended as of Monday were in their 20s and 30s. Teenagers were also involved. While the authorities did not disclose their genders, video footage showed masked young men smashing windows, destroying court property and violently clashing with police officers.

The interior of the Seoul Western District Court is seen damaged, Sunday, after supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed the building, angered by the court's issuance of a warrant for his arrest. Yonhap

The involvement of young men in the mob attack reflects their growing alignment with conservative ideologies, according to observers.

"What we saw at the court wasn't a spontaneous outburst," political commentator Park Sang-byeong said. "It was the culmination of years of mounting resentment among young men who feel alienated by a society they perceive as favoring women. This lingering discontent has driven many of them gradually toward ultra-right-wing movements."

The grievances driving these young men stem from broader societal issues, including unemployment, the soaring cost of homeownership and challenges in marriage — issues they believe have worsened under liberal governments.

"But the problem is that they are increasingly turning to YouTube and other online platforms as their primary sources of information and opinion sharing, where conspiracy theories and misinformation thrive," Park said.

One such YouTuber is Bae In-kyu, head of the group Man on Solidarity, who encourages fellow males to rally for the suspended president. Identifying himself as an anti-feminist, Bae claims that young men should stand in solidarity against feminists and communists.

In a recent livestream, Bae claimed he was at the rally at the court for 15 hours. He also supports speculation that anti-Yoon rallies were backed by Chinese spies, a rumor fueled by conservative politicians.

This movement of young male conservatives is gaining momentum in online communities.

An online forum on Dcinside, one of the largest online communities, dedicated to the ruling People Power Party is flooded with posts from those age group expressing support for the conservative government and encouraging each other to participate in pro-Yoon rallies.

Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally near his residence in central Seoul's Hannam-dong, Jan. 6, protesting against attempts by investigators to execute a warrant for his detainment. Yoon was detained on Jan. 15. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The growing involvement of the younger generation in conservative demonstrations has been evident even before the violent outburst at the court.

Earlier this month, many young men took part in a dayslong protest near Yoon's residence, standing alongside older supporters of the president to protect him from being detained. Like their older counterparts, they waved Korean and American flags and carried signs with slogans like "Stop the Steal" and "MAGA," echoing the rallying chants of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Some protesters went even further, forming a group called the "Anti-Communist Youth Group," which likened itself to the notorious "baekgoldan" (white skull squad), a brutal combat police unit that suppressed pro-democracy activists in the 1980s and 1990s.

Koo Jeong-woo, a sociology professor at Sungkyunkwan University, views the nation's deepening gender divide as a key factor driving young men toward conservatism.

"Many young men seem to feel a sense of crisis as women increasingly take center stage in mainstream society and raise their voices, which have actually made changes. This sense of crisis is what is bringing them together," Koo said.

He explained that the protests calling for the National Assembly to impeach Yoon, which peaked last month, were largely led by women in their 20s and 30s. Since then, these women cultivated a strong sense of solidarity, believing they could bring about political change — something they ultimately achieved when the Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on Dec. 14.

"In response, young men appear increasingly compelled to unite against what they perceive as the rising influence of women in both political and social spheres," the professor said.

A leaflet that says "Stop the Steal" is seen on the ground near the Seoul Western District Court, Monday, following a violent protest by President Yoon Suk Yeol's supporters early Sunday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul