Former President Yoon Suk-yeol watched a documentary film promoting election fraud claims on May 21, just 13 days before the presidential election. Having been impeached and removed from office for declaring illegal martial law to investigate alleged election fraud, Yoon is now seen as fueling a conspiracy theory of election fraud in the very election his impeachment triggered. While the presidential candidate of conservative People Power Party (PPP) Kim Moon-soo defended Yoon by saying, “Watching a lot of films is a good thing,” voices of discontent erupted within the party, with members saying, “Is he Lee Jae-myung’s No. 1 election campaigner?” and “Please jail him again.”

Yoon watched the film “Korean Election Fraud, God’s will?” at a theater in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul on that day. It was his first public appearance in 47 days since he was removed from office on April 4 following his declaration of illegal martial law on December 3 last year. He was flanked by the film’s director Lee Young-don and Jeon Han-gil, a Korean history lecturer who produced the film. Independent presidential candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn, a long-time promoter of election fraud conspiracy theory, was also present. Yoon left the theater without making any comments after watching the film.

The film poster boldly declares, “We are convinced there will be election fraud in the presidential election on June 3!” The film makes a series of unsubstantiated claims such as, “Ballots were printed under the orders of China,” and “Fake ballots are used for manipulating early voting results.” It also defends Yoon’s imposition of martial law, with a scene depicting martial law forces storming the National Assembly, which drew cheers and applause from the audience.

Director Lee said, “If we abolish early voting and return to hand-counting ballots, the people will accept the results,” adding, “If the results of the upcoming presidential election are incomprehensible, we will launch a resistance movement.”

Yoon’s move on that day is interpreted as an attempt to justify his declaration of martial law and to deny the legitimacy of his impeachment. At the time of declaring martial law, he had dispatched military forces to the National Election Commission, citing the need to verify election fraud allegations. He is currently standing trial without detention on charges of leading an insurrection. Rather than showing remorse, his attendance at the film screening appeared to be a message that he did nothing wrong. His presence also linked PPP presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, whom he endorses, to the election fraud conspiracy theory.

Kim, who opposed Yoon’s impeachment, defended the former president’s action. “Isn’t it good to watch films and meet people?” he told reporters. At a separate forum hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club earlier that day, Kim deflected responsibility onto the National Election Commission, saying, “If voters raise suspicions of election fraud, the National Election Commission should make efforts to clarify them.”

PPP lawmakers, including its emergency committee head Kim Yong-tae, appeared frustrated. Kim said, “Yoon left the party and is no longer affiliated with us,” adding, “Now is the time for reflection and restraint over his martial law declaration.” One senior PPP lawmaker said in a party chatroom, “Someone needs to stop Yoon.” Six-term PPP lawmaker Cho Kyung-tae wrote on Facebook, “Is he volunteering to be Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Lee Jae-myung’s No. 1 election campaigner? It’s appalling and pathetic that he shows no remorse for the early presidential election his actions caused.”

Criticism also emerged over Yoon’s propagation of election fraud narratives, especially as early voting is set to begin on May 29 and 30. Former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, campaigning at Daegu’s Seomun Market, said, “The DPK supporters vote for three days (the early voting days and the election day), while we only vote for one day (the election day). The conspiracy theory about election fraud is a sure path to defeat in the upcoming election.”

There was further criticism over the PPP’s inability to fully cut ties with Yoon. Since official campaigning began on May 12, calls for Yoon’s expulsion or voluntary departure from the party have persisted. Although he formally left the PPP on the 17th, he pledged to “serve quietly in the background.” Nonetheless, he has now taken public action to spread election fraud claims. One PPP official said, “Maintaining the narrative of ‘Yoon vs. Lee Jae-myung’ is damaging for the party.” Kim Geun-sik, head of the PPP’s council in Seoul’s Songpa-byung district, wrote on Facebook, “As long as Yoon is politically active, we’re doomed. Please, jail Yoon again.”

DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung told reporters, “How can Yoon claim fraud in an election system that he himself once won under? I just don’t understand.” New Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok said, “Since the situation doesn’t favor Yoon, he’d be better off staying silent.”