Translation of Hanmi Ilbo article by reporter Heo Gyeom, April 17, 2026
Canadian political commentator William Barclay has become a hot topic lately for his unsparing posts about Lee Jae-myung. This interview — his first with Korean media — was arranged through the active coordination of Mr. J, a member of the "National Salvation Daegu Struggle Headquarters."
An MZ-generation youth and patriot who has devoted himself to the "election fraud" struggle, Mr. J participated with Hanmi Ilbo in producing the video "(Tentative) December 3 Martial Law Meritorious Figure: Roh Sang-won."
The video was first screened last weekend at the National Election Commission Server Citizens' Movement Headquarters rally at Seoul Station (led by Dr. Chang Jae-eon) and was also delivered to the White House. — Editor
Canadian political commentator's first interview with Korean media
Canadian political commentator William Barclay analyzed that "former U.S. Congresswoman Michelle Park Steel's nomination as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea is a message that America will block the Chinese Communist Party's election-based subversion of the Republic of Korea."
In a video interview with Hanmi Ilbo on April 16, Barclay predicted: "President Donald Trump has made confronting communism his top priority, so he will absolutely not tolerate China encroaching on Korea."
Michelle Park: A "China Hawk" who has fought to "delete" communism
"Filling this long-vacant post as soon as U.S. involvement in Iran wound down is a measure meant to send a clear message," he said. "She has a recognized track record and history of working tirelessly to 'delete' communism, so in the true sense she should be regarded as a 'China hawk.'"
Presenting the fact that Trump had nominated a politically aligned figure, Barclay added: "President Trump has begun to look at Korea more directly," emphasizing the country's importance. "There is agreement that the U.S. will not part ways with Korea, and Korea is considered one of the most important footholds in the fight between the United States and China/Xi Jinping."
He continued: "All of us are working tirelessly to free Korea and the Korean people from bondage. Under President Trump, who is closely watching the Korean situation, the United States has made fighting the disaster of global communism its top priority."
Barclay said: "The USA simply will not allow China and Xi to expand into South Korea — by dismantling networks among nations like Venezuela and Iran, and malicious small international strongholds like the PRC. The overall atmosphere is that Korea stands with us and will continue to stand with us, and this is the best evidence I can give you."
However, he was reserved about exactly who "we" encompasses. Barclay is reportedly an Israeli-born Jewish Canadian citizen.
He particularly stressed: "The United States has repeatedly emphasized that it will absolutely not tolerate violations of basic human rights like freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The election-based subversion of the Republic of Korea, the very clear infiltration of the PRC, along with violations of fundamental rights, must be stopped immediately."
"The U.S. will not tolerate violations of basic rights like press and religious freedom"
Regarding the trend of conservative-leaning media facing severe difficulties within Korea's left-leaning media landscape, Barclay opened by saying, "I strongly agree."
He also noted that such phenomena have been observed globally since the first Trump administration.
"For nearly a decade, leftists have made futile attempts to cage every conservative ideology under the false facade of 'fascism,'" he said. "As a result, they have suppressed the rising popularity of every right-wing ideology, value system, and leader, and damaged their reputations."
He continued: "Leftist media have glorified the leftist ideology that runs through most of today's political society, and they have always associated the left-wing ethos with democratic ideals or human rights."
He also emphasized that "the situation in Korea is getting worse because of Lee Jae-myung's methods."
Specifically, he added: "Lee Jae-myung manipulates the law and attempts new legislation to gain more control over the judiciary, and imposes his own distorted message on all media."
"Political dialogue has collapsed, and swift public suppression has become a massive reality," he lamented. "Conservatives have become an enemy to be eradicated, and even basic human rights like freedom of speech and political association are under threat."
Citing his own case, he offered wise advice: "Not paying too much attention to those trying to exterminate the political system is one approach." He recommended: "Like Charlie Kirk, it's also good to participate in debates and discussions to make progress or build a better society."
"Still, if you insist on standing as a light for the nation and going out, the best advice would be to have data in hand and be ready to answer," he said. "Solid facts and evidence will allow you to stand in the darkness until you are called upon."
Given this was his first interview with Korean media, the reporters focused questions on how Barclay obtains and analyzes information. This line of questioning continued for some time in a second, closed-door session.
When asked — along with a comment that his posts have generated fandom-like enthusiasm among Korean conservatives — about the concrete basis for his predictions, he suggested that the posts (such as those claiming Lee Jae-myung is losing support) represent only part of a considerable accumulated body of information he has received privately.
"Conservatives perceived as enemies to be eradicated"… Characteristics of the left
Saying he has extensive experience in data analysis based on his research background, Barclay explained his approach to accessing Korea's internal affairs: "I regularly converse with Korean politicians on both sides of the spectrum." Hinting that his information-gathering is not constrained by partisanship, he said: "That's why my business is to research what's being discussed on the ground in Korea with a perspective that allows somewhat closer grasp of the issues."
He reiterated: "This isn't all the information I've personally received from Korean politicians or political actors. The information I receive directly from them is not skewed polling data."
"These are my own predictions that I can share a bit with you," he said. "I can't reveal everything during this interview because these are political events and decisions still in progress."
He also pointedly addressed what he sees as the world's biggest problem today — the "newsroom."
"One of the biggest problems right now is that many people on the ground in Korea are suffering real human rights violations and challenges to justice, but mainstream Korean media doesn't digitize or report it," Barclay said, citing the December 3 emergency martial law as an example. "Because of this, it is treated as if it practically didn't happen, and is not treated as valid evidence abroad."
"President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment is one of those cases," he said. "Abroad it's viewed as a crisis caused by martial law, but when I discuss it with Koreans, they tell a completely different story. What I'm trying to fight for is the process of obtaining this evidence."
"Foreigners don't really know what's happening to President Yoon. They don't know how badly the Korean situation has deteriorated," he said. "Even I didn't know until I went to Seoul, met Lee Jae-myung in person, and experienced his arrogance. It was only through investigating directly that my eyes were opened."
"Media is the biggest problem… My eyes opened after meeting Lee and experiencing his arrogance
Among conservatives, it is not uncommon to hear expressions of wishing Korea would simply become the 51st state of the United States. This sentiment is received as proof of how extreme the Lee Jae-myung regime's dictatorship has become.
Barclay criticized: "Little Lee (Lee Jae-myung) routinely makes public anti-American remarks, carried out an illegal search and seizure at Osan Air Base, and has now gone so far as to publicly support not only China but also internationally terror-sponsoring states like Iran." He expressed his opinion: "I agree that setting up a temporary protected zone (like a 51st state arrangement) could be a good idea."
He continued: "That is precisely the hope, and everyone sees it that way. As much as people wish to become the 51st state, there must be internationally significant triggers or motivations for action."
"I don't see it as a mistake to point out Lee Jae-myung's public anti-American behavior, and in that sense, it's not a coincidence that Michelle Park Steel was nominated as Ambassador to Korea right after Lee Jae-myung made it clear he is an ally of Iran and China," Barclay said — with a nuance suggesting the Trump administration's nomination of the long-vacant ambassadorship during this extraordinary time can be interpreted as a form of U.S. intervention.
He also addressed whether patriotic citizens and conservative organizations submitting various reports to the White House or the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) could bring about actual U.S. intervention.
"I'm not going to say don't do it," he said, explaining: "I want to emphasize once again that the Trump administration is fully aware of the grave predicament Korea and Koreans are facing."
"U.S. ambassador nominated as Iran involvement winds down"… Nuance suggesting a form of U.S. intervention
"President Trump himself is the one who said it looks like a purge or revolution is happening in Korea," Barclay said. "After he said that, he's not someone who would change his mind and think Lee Jae-myung is 'a nice person after meeting him,' or forget those words themselves."
He continued: "A nation's life cycle is truly long, far exceeding the scope or kind of human life, so people sometimes lack or entirely miss the eye to see how fast or slow things actually unfold. In other words, it's like seeing only the wall in front of you and failing to realize that a fortress is being built."
He added: "Average people tend to evaluate political change based on the news, but news is not a good indicator — at best it's an echo. If patriotic citizens continue the efforts they are making now, a community will form and expand; and political structures and mechanisms will inevitably develop as viable alternatives to mainstream channels, which can be leveraged to achieve genuine political change."
Barclay urged those who have lost their voice and hope that what they must do to speak the truth is to continue their current activities. "You have to keep doing what you are doing now," he said. "You must think of sunlight as the best disinfectant."
"Because the Korean patriots fighting a brave fight are not alone, meaningful triggers must be created so that the United States and the international community pay attention," he said, also prescribing a sequenced strategy for confronting dictatorship.
"Many (Koreans) have reached out to me completely losing hope, in despair, so I want to say this as clearly as possible," he stressed. "In your brave fight, you are not alone, and you will not be alone going forward."
Regarding concerns that suppression will only grow as the Lee Jae-myung regime forces through legislation — even as protesters have demonstrated on the asphalt through storms and scorching sun — he offered another message of hope: "It will certainly get harder, but I want to tell you not to give up. Giving up is the very last thing you should do, and you are not alone."
Source: HamiIlbo https://www.hanmiilbo.kr/news/view.php?idx=7834&mcode=m93atmw