Lee Joon-seok, the leader of the New Reform Party, explained that the "conspiracy theory of cutting
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When a politician publicly debunks a conspiracy theory about himself, it can paradoxically amplify it — and this Korean election story is a textbook case of the backfire effect in action.
Backfire EffectConspiracy TheoryAgenda-Setting TheorySocial Amplification of Risk
Theory Briefing
- New Reform Party leader Lee Joon-seok felt compelled to address a conspiracy theory that spread on the first day of early voting.
- The theory originated at an Administrative Welfare Center, showing how local, mundane settings can become flashpoints for viral political misinformation.
- Lee's public denial risks the backfire effect — where refuting a false claim inadvertently reinforces it in the minds of believers.