Conviction of Jimmy Lai and Pastor Hyun-bo Son Show Authoritarianism on the Rise in East Asia: CPAC Freedom of Speech Ratings

CPAC's inaugural Freedom of Speech Ratings exposed China and South Korea as enemies of free speech, with 0% and 30% failing scores, respectively. Both nations have seen a rise in authoritarianism threatening the fundamental human right of free speech. The recent developments in the instances of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai and South Korean pastor Hyun-bo Son reinforce CPAC's concerns about free speech in these countries.

The convictions of Lai and Son are prime examples of why these countries are scored so lowly and prove that authoritarianism is spreading in East Asia.

In Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has utilized the silencing of dissent to crush the region's broader struggle for independence. The case of Jimmy Lai, the founder of the Apple Daily, stands as the most prominent symbol of this repression. Apple Daily was the city’s most prominent pro-Democracy, anti-CCP newspaper before it was forced to shut down. CCP prosecutors charged Lai with “colluding with foreign forces” and “publishing seditious content,” leading to his conviction last month, in December of 2025.

Now facing a possible life sentence, the 78-year-old has been held in solitary confinement, where his legal team has raised serious concerns regarding his deteriorating health, including hypertension and diabetes. By targeting Lai, Beijing ensures that any voice supporting the desire for autonomy or greater freedom from Communism is silenced under the weight of state-sponsored intimidation.

Lai's case is a personal one to CPAC. A CPAC delegation that included CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp visited Lai's home while in Hong Kong, supporting pro-democracy protests of the CCP's tightened grip on the island. The following day, Lai's house was firebombed. The firebombing was just one example of the harassment the CCP and its cronies have imposed on Lai for decades as punishment for his expressing support for freedom and democracy.

The case of Pastor Son, which has also reached prominence in recent weeks, demonstrates an alarming shift in South Korea toward aligning itself with the CCP and its oppressive practices.

Once a bulwark against communism, South Korea has increasingly exhibited authoritarian tendencies, earning a mere 30% on CPAC’s Freedom of Speech rankings.

Pastor Son's case reinforces this low score and perhaps warrants an even lower score in the 2026 edition of CPAC's Freedom of Speech ratings. Son was arrested just months ago in September of 2025 by South Korean police for interviewing a politician at his church, Segero Church, allegedly violating election laws. While such violations are typically punished with minor fines, Son instead faces a potential prison sentence of 12 months.

CPAC's inaugural Freedom of Speech Ratings brought to light the already-urgent threat of authoritarianism in East Asia, where China (0%) and South Korea (30%) exemplify the erosion of the fundamental right to freedom of speech. The unjust convictions of Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai and South Korea's Pastor Hyun-bo Son reinforce Beijing's ruthless suppression of dissent and Seoul's alarming shift away from democratic principles.