Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Discourse and Far-Right Political Rallies in South Korea

Abstract There has been a recent revival of interest in Dietrich Bonhoeffer in South Korean society. The far-right group cited and used Bonhoeffer’s discourse, “You can’t let a madman drive the wheel,” at their political rallies. They framed their argument by comparing the progressive government to Hitler’s Nazi regime. Progressive theologians and the Bonhoeffer Society in South Korea argued that this use of the discourse was incorrect and misleading. This paper raises numerous concerns regarding the controversy, as it reveals the existence of a group of far-right Protestants within the South Korean church. The group has a strong anti-communist stance. The paper critically examines the significance of Bonhoeffer’s discourse and the far-right Protestants in the South Korean church.