A concept image of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) team's research on foreign-linked online comments aimed at fueling political division in Korea / Courtesy of KAIST
A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has identified about 24,000 foreign-linked accounts exhibiting behavior consistent with coordinated manipulation aimed at fueling political divisions on Korea’s largest news portal. The researchers developed a tool using artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can flag suspicious online accounts, and also explain the basis for its assessments.
The accounts did not focus on a particular political party or ideology, but instead posted messages targeting both conservative and liberal politicians, including former and incumbent presidents, in ways that could amplify divisions and confrontation, raising suspicions of links to foreign influence operations.
The team, led by professors Lee Won-jae, Cha Mee-young and Oh Hae-yun, will present their research, titled “Cross-National Information Attacks: A Two-Decade Analysis of Troll Behavior in Korea,” at USENIX Security Symposium 2026 on Thursday, according to KAIST.
