Rallying Around the Flag or Crying Wolf? Contentions over the Cheonan Incident

In this article, I examine the 2010 sinking of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan to assess the popular theory of “rally-round-the-flag,” focusing especially on its domestic mechanisms. What did the South Korean government do to sell its version of the incident to the public? How effective was it? What were its obstacles? In addition, I explore the possibility that the authorities may in fact have limited ability to engage in effective diversionary activity. I conclude that authorities’ efforts were partially successful because of their monopoly of information, control over the press, repression, and institutionalization of memories. Obstacles to their efforts included nongovernmental organizations, independent journalists, and the president’s low popularity.