Guest columnist. Korean Military Academy Class of 40 

“Suppression of Freedom of Expression and Control of Information/Media are Causes of Regime Collapse”

In September 2025, Nepal's pro-China communist regime collapsed due to the spontaneous resistance of Nepali youth against the government's social media ban. This was more than just a political upheaval; it was an anti-China, anti-communist revolution and Nepal's 'Liberal Democratic Movement.' For pro-China regimes worldwide, it has become an immediate crisis rather than a distant concern. It is a case that demonstrates how democracy can spread to communist countries in the digital age.

Nepal's 'Liberal Democratic Movement' showed that digital communication control, social control, and censorship are no longer effective for maintaining a regime. It issued a stern warning to global communism and authoritarian dictatorships: "Organizations and governments that suppress freedom of expression and control information, media, and people can no longer endure."

The communist bloc, feeling the fear of regime collapse from the Nepali youth's 'Liberal Democratic Movement,' will likely further advance AI-based surveillance and control technologies to prevent democratization movements. However, with the development and generalization of technologies that bypass censorship, such as satellite communication and decentralized networks, controlling social media and the press will become impossible. In a world where major issues spread in real-time, some governments are unable to even properly convey Nepal's 'Liberal Democratic Movement.'

1. Background of Nepal's Liberal Democratic Movement

While the background of Nepal's 'Liberal Democratic Movement,' which brought down an unjust regime, might appear to be a backlash against the suppression of freedom of expression through social media bans, beneath the surface lie accumulated issues of economic inequality and chronic youth unemployment caused by the long-standing political corruption of the pro-China regime.

Although Nepal's political elite overthrew the monarchy and achieved democracy, after gaining power, they transformed into an entrenched establishment, becoming corrupt and disappointing the people through factional infighting. This inflicted deep frustration on the younger generation, who faced an uncertain future.

In this context of escalating social discontent, the government's decision to block Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram—the primary communication channels for its citizens—was like adding fuel to a fire. For the digital generation, social media is a space for acquiring information, exchanging opinions, and engaging in political discourse. When this space was sealed off, Nepali youth immediately took to the streets, utilizing VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), P2P (Peer-to-Peer) networks, and encrypted messaging apps.

The expansion of Nepali youth's protest slogan to "Abolish Political Privilege" can be interpreted as an expression not just of freedom of speech but also of anger towards the government's pro-China policies and the resulting inequality.

China's large-scale investment projects, backed by the pro-China communist regime in Nepal, have sparked debt trap controversies due to a lack of transparency. Nepal's rulers enjoyed dictatorial power through treasonous acts that compromised sovereignty and environmental protection, while their children enjoyed wealth and luxury. The younger generation in Nepal felt deprived of economic opportunities and political participation by this vested interest, which ultimately became a major cause of the large-scale protests.

2. The Rapidly Spreading Anti-China, Anti-Communist Revolution and the 'Liberal Democratic Movement'

The spontaneous organization of Nepali youth, formed through digital networks rather than existing political parties or civic groups, was established in a short period and did not hesitate to confront injustice. The way they fought for freedom through digital networks will provide significant inspiration and courage to resistance movements globally, including anti-China revolutions in China's Belt and Road Initiative countries, independence movements in Tibet and Xinjiang, China's 'White Paper Protests,' Iran's 'Hijab Protests,' and anti-government demonstrations in Indonesia.

Communist states employ information control as a core strategy for regime maintenance. China censors the internet through the 'Great Firewall' and operates a robust social control system. Russia, through its 'Sovereign Internet Law,' has strengthened the government's authority to control communication networks.

North Korea fundamentally blocks external information and severely restricts the movement and communication of its citizens. Although North Korea has nearly 6 million mobile phone users, all mobile phones are intranet-only devices equipped with surveillance programs, monitoring not only calls and texts but also photos. The introduction of external information is severely punished, and the North Korean regime uses mobile phones as a tool for propaganda and control.

3. Regimes That Lose Trust Cannot Survive

Nepal has written a history of anti-communist revolution, transforming fear into courage and injustice into justice. After the Communist Party came to power, Nepal confronted identity confusion, pro-China economic policies detached from people's livelihoods, and measures that stifled freedom of expression, thereby eradicating injustice.

Nepal is an agricultural nation where 60% of the population is engaged in farming. As of 2024, its GDP per capita was $1,397, ranking 161st out of 193 UN member states. However, the resolve and spirit of sacrifice of Nepali youth are arguably second to none in the world.

Since 1990, whenever leftist regimes have come to power in South Korea, there have been repeated instances of hypocritical corruption and various privilege controversies. This has deepened relative deprivation and frustration about the future among the younger generation. As the pro-China, pro-North Korea forces seized the three branches of government through rigged elections and transformed into power hunters, it became evident that the values of 'justice' and 'fairness' they proclaimed were merely tools for propaganda and manipulation.

4. The Courage to Eradicate Injustice

It is a historical truth that power that has lost trust is brought down by the people. When politics ignores the lives of its citizens, its ultimate destination is collapse. Power that has lost the public's empathy and support is like a house built on sand, destined to vanish into history by the angry public sentiment, just like the Nepali communist regime.

Internal political contradictions and corruption that violate universal human values of freedom and justice, as well as issues of rigged elections, cannot be resolved by the UN, the United States, or the West. This is because it would fall into the trap of interfering in domestic affairs. Internal political issues and rigged elections must be resolved by our own efforts, regardless of the sacrifices required.

The Nepali youth have shown that rallies and protests that are merely slogans cannot improve or reform unjust and corrupt, malignant politics. We hope for a miracle of Korean wisdom and collective action to achieve the normalization of South Korea and move towards a path of mutual growth, without physical clashes.

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