Charlie Kirk fanned far-right flame in Asia before fatal Utah shooting

Days before his death, conservative activist Charlie Kirk brought his polarizing brand of American politics to Asia, delivering speeches in Seoul and Tokyo that warned against globalism and immigration. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder aligned himself with far-right groups abroad that have been criticized for nationalist and exclusionary rhetoric. Less than a week later, Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking event in Utah.

Kirk appeared at the Build Up Korea 2025 conference in Seoul on Sept. 5, addressing a crowd that included evangelical Christians and young conservatives. He framed what he described as a global conservative surge as evidence of a broader political shift. “The phenomenon of young people, especially men, turning conservative is occurring simultaneously across multiple continents,” Kirk told the audience. He added that he deliberately chose South Korea as the first stop on his Asia tour, calling it proof that the movement was not limited to the U.S.

Days later, Kirk traveled to Tokyo to participate in a symposium hosted by Sanseito, a nationalist party that has opposed immigration and vaccines. He repeated warnings of a “globalist menace” and praised Sanseito for resisting what he characterized as cultural threats to sovereignty. In a pre-event video message released on YouTube, Kirk said he hoped to “invigorate the people of your great nation to keep fighting this globalist menace.” His remarks placed Japanese and South Korean political debates alongside those in the U.S., presenting them as part of the same struggle.

Kirk’s visit came at a time when nationalist movements were gaining strength in both countries. Sanseito secured 14 seats in the Upper House election in Japan last July with its “Japanese First” campaign that warned of a “silent invasion” by foreigners. In South Korea, Lee Kang-san of the Liberty Unification Party ran in the April 2 by-election in Seoul on an anti-immigrant platform that tied foreign workers to social decline, drawing significant attention despite his defeat.