China's Ambassador to South Korea, Dai Bing (left), presents his credentials to South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, on January 7, 2025. Photo: the Chinese Embassy in South Korea

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing on Monday rejected rumors spread by some individuals in South Korea about so-called Chinese interference in South Korean elections. He wrote on X that China always adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and opposes relating South Korea's internal issues with China for no reason.

"In response to the recent rumors of the so-called 'China's interference in the ROK's elections' speculated by a very small number of people in the ROK, my colleague told the Yonhap News Agency and other ROK media yesterday correspondingly: China has all along upheld the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. And we have always honored our word and are completely aboveboard on it," Dai wrote.

As the amicable and close neighbor, we do hope the ROK will maintain stability, development and prosperity, which is our valuable political support. We believe that the ROK people have the wisdom and ability to properly deal with their internal issues. But at the same time, we oppose relating their internal issues with China for no reason, and believe they can have a clear understanding of the complexity and make correct judgments accordingly, Dai wrote.

China and the ROK have close exchanges in various fields including people-to-people exchanges, with a large number of nationals working, studying, living and traveling in each other's country. In this regard, it is hoped that the ROK side would effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals in the ROK, Dai noted.

According to the Korea Times on Sunday, anti-China sentiment is spreading among far-right conservatives in South Korea amid the martial law fiasco, as President Yoon Suk-yeol and members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) have openly insisted on so-called China's alleged involvement in election fraud.

Since January, every Friday evening, around 50 to 100 protesters holding signs that read "No China" have marched along Myeongdong Street in central Seoul, Korea Times reported, adding that most of them are Yoon supporters, many of whom have participated in previous rallies, including those against impeachment.

Yoon's legal team has repeated its claim that suspicions of election fraud were one of the key reasons Yoon declared martial law on December 3, 2024, KBS World Radio reported on January 17.

Amid the chaos brought about by the attempt to impose martial law, South Korea's far-right forces are trying to incite the extreme emotions by claiming that China interfered in the elections, which is a typical tactic to divert attention due to a political purpose, Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

South Korean media outlet Sky Daily reported last month that "99 Chinese spies were apprehended" at a National Election Commission facility during Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law, and were transported to a US military base in Japan. 

The election watchdog has rejected the claims as "clearly false," filing a complaint against Sky Daily, with a police investigation currently under way. The US Forces Korea also said the claim is false, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

In the context of potential ongoing political turmoil in South Korea and the likelihood of uncertainty in the future, it is not wise to drag China into the situation, according to Xiang. This could mislead some ordinary South Koreans and may further exacerbate the division of public opinion at the social level, which would be detrimental to the country's domestic stability, the expert said.