Historical Cases That Come to Mind When Considering the Political Turmoil Caused by Myung Tae-kyun’s Words

 

A Clever Tongue Controlling the Political Scene: Myung Tae-kyun

Myung Tae-kyun, a businessman and media figure, has become a well-known name in South Korea in 2024, finding himself at the center of political controversy. Despite holding no official government position, he is under investigation for allegedly intervening in candidate nominations for the ruling party. He has even boasted about his close ties with the president and first lady, revealing personal conversations to sway public opinion. Regardless of whether these records are authentic, his disclosures have become daily fuel for political discourse, diverting politicians from addressing key issues that impact citizens’ lives. Let’s take a look at similar cases from history.

The Ten Eunuchs Who Brought Down the Later Han Dynasty

The “Ten Attendants” were a group of eunuchs in late Eastern Han China who manipulated a young emperor and ultimately led the dynasty to ruin. Eunuchs served as palace attendants, having undergone castration to serve in the royal court. Facing the threat of powerful noble families, the young emperor relied on these eunuchs, who took this opportunity to gain his trust, monopolizing his ear and abusing imperial authority. They profited handsomely by selling government positions but provided no real job security, as they would often dismiss officials at will. Officials, desperate to recoup their bribes, extorted the people, leading to widespread hardship and uprisings across the country. This unrest included the infamous Yellow Turban Rebellion, which prompted the rise of various warlords, culminating in the overthrow of the Ten Attendants and the collapse of the dynasty. This turmoil ushered in the Three Kingdoms period, during which the Han dynasty faded from history.

 

The Ten Eunuchs Who Disrupted the Later Han Dynasty

Wei Zhongxian: A Eunuch Who Manipulated Power in the Ming Dynasty

Wei Zhongxian, a eunuch of late Ming China, was born to a poor farming family and lived as a gambling addict who couldn’t even read. When he became indebted from gambling, he even sold his daughter and, eventually, chose castration to join the eunuch ranks. Despite his illiteracy, Wei Zhongxian was highly perceptive, earning favor with the mother and wet nurse of the future emperor, Tianqi. After Tianqi ascended the throne, Wei Zhongxian quickly rose through the ranks to the powerful position of bingbitai-jian (Head of the Writing Brush), akin to a chief of staff. From this influential position, he filtered all government communications and blocked messages unfavorable to him, closing off the emperor’s access to honest advice. Wei Zhongxian indulged the emperor’s interests in carpentry and women, distracting him from governance. As Wei's power grew, he filled the government with sycophantic officials loyal to him, plunging the Ming dynasty into corruption and decay. His successor, the wise Chongzhen Emperor, attempted reforms but found the state beyond repair. Disgraced, Wei Zhongxian was dismissed and ultimately took his own life while fleeing. Shortly after, the Ming dynasty succumbed to invasion by the Qing, marking the end of an era.

Wei Zhongxian: The Eunuch Who Held Power in the Late Ming Dynasty

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