Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached after declaring martial law and has since been hiding in his compound with guards. (Reuters: Ahn Young-joon)
During a televised debate to secure his party's nomination for the South Korean presidency, Yoon Suk Yeol had the Chinese character for "king" written on the palm of his hand.
It was revealed soon after the 2021 debate that Mr Yoon had met with a shaman, who reportedly advised him doing so would give him political power to defeat his opponents and "become a king".
"The shaman told him to do that because it's like a magic spell," said South Korean expert Jay Song from the Australian National University.
It was a strange revelation that his own party members questioned, but ultimately it was not concerning enough for them or voters to shun him.
Mr Yoon was elected the next year.
What may have seemed like a one-off oddity now appears to many as a warning of what was to come.
Throughout his presidency, Mr Yoon has shown a penchant for following the advice of shamans, while recently leaning heavily into unfounded conspiracy theories.
His ultimate grab for power, declaring martial law in early December, is also widely believed to be heavily influenced by the advice of a convicted criminal-turned-shamanic fortune-teller.
While there is a long history of South Korean politics entwining with shamanism, in a modern, tech-savvy nation, the latest revelations have left many voters exasperated.
"It's just unbelievable," Dr Song said.
"We didn't know that he could do these kinds of crazy things."
Protesters in Seoul have been demanding the arrest of Yoon. (AP: Ahn Young-joon)
Hiding in a hillside complex to avoid arrest
Mr Yoon has been holed up in his large hillside presidential compound since last week, when the country's powerful anti-corruption watchdog obtained a warrant for his arrest.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials is investigating Mr Yoon for abuse of power and insurrection, after he spectacularly declared martial law in early December, only to reverse his decree six hours later when parliament voted it down.
He was impeached a little over a week later, but the matter will now ultimately be decided by the Constitutional Court in an impeachment trial that is due to start on January 14.
An arrest warrant was issued after Mr Yoon refused to meet with investigators on three occasions, which is the threshold for an arrest.
Efforts to detain him were thwarted when the presidential guard refused to allow investigators inside.
But also noteworthy were the hundreds of rusted-on Yoon supporters who vowed to do everything in their power to protect their leader.
Many were waving American flags and holding "stop the steal" signs, a clear nod to US president-elect Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.
Supporters of Yoon oppose his impeachment and seem to be calling out to the US for support. (AP: Ahn Young-joon)
Dr Song said many protesters were older men who lived in a bubble of right-wing, pro-conspiracy YouTube channels.
"They see Yoon Suk Yeol as a Messiah," Dr Song said.
"A Messiah to save the country out of this evil communist [threat] and save the country for better prosperity."
John Lee, editor of online publication Korea Pro, said the use of English slogans was new and a clear attempt to get Trump's attention.
"They, firstly, want to form some sort of a very loose global conservative sort of movement," he said.
"They're hoping that their message will resonate in American media, and hopefully their images will appear in Fox News, which will eventually filter into Donald Trump's TV."
He added it was unclear what, ultimately, they hoped Trump would do.
"Their hope is that Donald Trump will feel some sort of sympathy for Yoon and his supporters," he said.
Many Yoon supporters are older men caught in a right-wing bubble, an expert says. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)
Communist wind from the north
Without presenting evidence, Mr Yoon cited "anti state" forces as justification for his martial law, leaning into a belief that the left-leaning opposition, which controls parliament, are North Korean sympathisers.
Subsequently, he's pushed conspiracy theories the recent parliamentary election was rigged and fraudulent.
While there is no evidence for either claim, they have resonated with his most ardent supporters.
"We think there was surely fraud in the voting and the election," one pro-Yoon protester told the ABC.
Many Yoon supporters believe South Korea's opposition want to bring in communism with support from North Korea and China. (Reuters: Korean Central News Agency)
The spectre of North Korean sympathisers is a well-trodden path in South Korea.
During the country's decades of military dictatorship, leaders touted the idea of "buk pung", which translates to "wind from the north".
In other words, the South was at risk of communist contamination unless strong, conservative leaders intervened.
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Photo shows A man in a suit with black hair looking solemn
Many protesters the ABC spoke with cited deep fears about communism, North Korea, and China.
"The liberals are for the Chinese and the North Korean government," young female protester Shim Jae Hee, 25, told the ABC.
"[Yoon] realised that the liberals are North Korea spies. They're taking over South Korea."
Another protester, Lee Su Chan, told the ABC he was protesting "for the freedom of the peninsular".
"The country is moving toward China, instead of America. China is using North Korea to conquer this Korean Peninsula and then win against the United States," he said.
"I hate the communism in this country."
The fortune teller amping up conflict
A stunning revelation since Mr Yoon was impeached is that his former military advisor turned spiritual advisor, Noh Sang Won, allegedly pushed for conflict with North Korea to justify the martial law decree.
A notebook belonging to Noh, formerly chief of Defence Intelligence Command, was found allegedly stating "induce North Korea's provocation at the Northern Limit Line".
The Northern Limit Line is a hotly contested maritime border that separates North from South.
The revelation has fuelled suspicion a South Korean drone caught dropping propaganda leaflets in North Korea last year might have been an attempt to provoke a conflict to justify martial law.
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The South Korean military has denied any involvement.
"We have no confirmation of it, but signs are pointing to it [being a South Korean military drone]," Mr Lee said.
Noh was sentenced to 18 months in jail in 2018 after being convicted of forcibly placing a female cadet on his lap and making inappropriate physical contact during a military dinner.
Upon his release, he ran a fortune-telling business from his residence and became a close confidant of Mr Yoon.
He's since been arrested on charges of conspiring to orchestrate the martial law declaration.
Yoon spends millions to shift from cursed residence
The use of shamanism has a long history in South Korean politics.
When Mr Yoon was elected, he moved the presidential residency away from the traditional and grand Blue House, at an estimated cost of $64 million.
The Blue House former presidential palace, in Seoul. (AP: Ahn Young-joon)
While officially he declared it a "symbol of imperial power," unofficially it's widely reported he believed the house was cursed due to the number of presidents whose political careers imploded.
Mr Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, is said to be one of the few people he listens to, and is reportedly a strong believer in shamanism.
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Photo shows Kim Keon Hee sits with her husband Yoon Suk Yeol.
Other politicians have also leaned heavily into the spiritual world for political guidance.
Former president Park Geun Hye was reportedly convinced to wear shamanistic symbols, while her father, who served as president until 1979, relied on fortune tellers to declare martial law.
Mr Lee said despite the old connection between shamanism and politics, many in Korea were left with feelings of "exasperation and incredulity".
"South Korea is a modern country," he said.
"Despite the number of conservative protesters carrying Bibles and crosses, there are more people in this country who are not religious than those who are.
"Not to even mention those who actually still pay attention to what the shamans have to say."
South Korea's democracy being harmed
Mr Yoon remains safely enclosed in his presidential accommodation, with his personal protection guard protecting him.
While he remains broadly unpopular in South Korea, his defiance and Trump-like stance have led to a bump in his approval ratings as he consolidates conservative voters.
Yoon is being protected by guards, brining a risk of violence to any attempt to arrest him. (Reuters: South Korea Presidential Office)
But unlike Trump, Mr Yoon cannot run for a second term due to constitutional constraints.
For now, police may try to force entry for arrest, which could risk violence.
Or authorities could wait for the Constitutional Court to strip him of his title and presidential protection before acting.
Mr Yoon could be arrested if he decides to leave his compound to attend the Constitutional Court hearing, something he had promised to participate in.
The long-term concern is how damaging this whole saga, including the rise of right-wing conspiracy theories, maybe for the nation's democracy.
While protesters protecting Mr Yoon are skewed towards older generations, many young people are also protecting the impeached president.
"It's really harming South Korea's democracy," Dr Song said.
"There may be just crazy old grandpas, these conspiracy theorists, but they are also increasing and expanding their influence to other kind of demographics."
A protester holds a sign reading: "Arrest." (AP: Ahn Young-joon)
