Korean Americans Forced Into Military Service?
Also: How Trump’s tariffs, South Korea’s draft laws, and a major lawsuit are shaking up global tensions, identity politics, and the creator econom
The Rebel Yellow Issue #39
China is ready for “any type of war” with the U.S. following Trump’s latest tariff hike. Meanwhile, Korean Americans born in the U.S. are discovering they unknowingly owe military service to South Korea. And Lucy Guo’s creator platform, Passes, is facing a lawsuit over child exploitation allegations.
This week, we break down how Trump’s policies are reshaping global tensions, what it really means to hold dual citizenship, and why a controversial lawsuit could shake up the creator economy. Plus: The Friends controversy that led to a Hollywood reckoning, a Berkeley historian debunking America’s immigration myths, and why miso and kimchi might be the secret to easing anxiety.
China is ready for “any type of war” with U.S. following Trump tariff hike
China issued its strongest warning yet to the U.S. this week, declaring its readiness to fight in “any type of war” following President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on its imports.
“Exerting extreme pressure on China is the wrong target and the wrong calculation. … If the U.S. has other intentions and insists on a tariff war, trade war or any other war, China will fight to the end,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Tuesday after Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods. “We advise the U.S. to put away its bullying face and return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation as soon as possible.”
Strategic response
Trump’s cumulative 20% tariff on all Chinese imports tops existing duties from his first term. The White House justifies these measures by claiming China has failed to adequately address fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.
China responded swiftly and strategically to Trump’s move, imposing tariffs of 10-15% on American agricultural imports. The higher tariff applies to chicken, corn, cotton and wheat — products chosen for their economic impact on key U.S. farming regions. Additionally, Beijing expanded export controls affecting a dozen American technology firms, filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization and halted imports of logs and soybeans from three U.S. companies.
On Thursday, Finance Minister Lan Fo’an told reporters that fiscal authorities had “set aside sufficient reserve tools and policy space” and were “ready to further expand supportive measures if necessary.”
Increased military spending
While projecting economic confidence, China is also reinforcing its military posture. Beijing is boosting its defense spending by 7.2% this year to 1.78 trillion yuan ($245 billion), matching last year’s increase. While this represents the world’s second-largest military budget, it remains far smaller than that of the U.S.
Li at the opening of the NPC also warned that “changes unseen in a century were unfolding across the world at a faster pace” — language that Chinese officials often use when discussing geopolitical tensions. Through the years, Chinese leadership has consistently portrayed China as a stabilizing global influence, frequently contrasting with an image of the U.S. as entangled in multiple global conflicts.
Diplomatic channels open
Despite the increasingly confrontational rhetoric, Chinese officials continue to signal willingness for diplomatic engagement with Washington. “Our two sides can meet at an appropriate time and our teams can also have communication as soon as possible,” Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told reporters at the National People’s Congress (NPC) Thursday.
The official also emphasized that China maintains diverse economic relationships. “China is the main trading partner of 140 countries and regions and has free trade agreements with more than 30 countries,” Wang said, adding, “We do not put all our eggs in one basket.”
U.S.-born Korean Americans discover they face mandatory military service in South Korea
Many U.S.-born Korean American men are unknowingly bound by South Korea's mandatory military service due to dual citizenship they never realized they held. This discovery, often made in late adolescence or adulthood, has upended lives, derailed career plans and imposed an unexpected obligation dictated by South Korea's complex citizenship laws.
Origins of a hidden obligation
The issue stems from a 2005 amendment to South Korea's Nationality Act, introduced after singer Yoo Seung-jun renounced his South Korean citizenship to avoid military service. The amendment aimed to prevent draft evasion by requiring male dual citizens to renounce their South Korean citizenship by March of the year they turn 18. Failure to do so results in automatic conscription eligibility, enforceable until the age of 38.
Immigration attorney Chun Jong-joon, a long-time critic of the law, estimates that around 250,000 diaspora Koreans worldwide are unknowingly affected. "Many people still don’t know that they or their children are subject to this law," Chun told the Los Angeles Times. Under South Korean law, individuals automatically acquire South Korean citizenship at birth if at least one parent is a South Korean national, regardless of birthplace.
Unexpected conscription
South Korea's conscription system, rooted in the nation's history of geopolitical tension, mandates all able-bodied male citizens between 18 and 35 to serve for 18 to 24 months. While intended to bolster national defense, the requirement poses significant challenges for U.S.-born Korean Americans, many of whom identify solely as American and have little connection to South Korea.
The Military Manpower Administration states that male dual citizens must choose one nationality by the end of March of the year they turn 18. If they fail to do so, they may only renounce their South Korean citizenship after completing military service or receiving an exemption — leaving many with few options to avoid conscription without navigating complicated legal and bureaucratic hurdles.
Lives on hold
The consequences of this law extend beyond military service. Dual citizenship can disqualify individuals from sensitive U.S. government positions, jeopardize career opportunities and even lead to rescinded university acceptances. Those with strong moral or religious objections to military service face additional challenges, as South Korea's alternative civilian service requires three years of labor within a prison setting.
Many Korean Americans only learn of their conscription obligation when attempting to live, study, or work in South Korea. One 32-year-old software engineer, identified only by his surname Park, shared with the Times that he discovered his obligation while planning to move to South Korea with his fiancee. “I considered myself American and only American,” said Park, who was born and raised in North Carolina and barely speaks Korean.
Attorney Chun explains that ignorance of the law is not considered a legitimate reason for exemption. Although the Constitutional Court of South Korea ordered revisions to the law in 2020, the measures offer limited relief. Between October and December 2022, only 134 of 435 applications for exemption were approved.
Choice between identity and autonomy
For many Korean Americans, the law forces a difficult decision over retaining South Korean nationality or preserving personal freedom. While some may feel a sense of obligation to their parents' homeland, the prospect of serving in a foreign military with which they have limited connection creates emotional and psychological stress.
Renouncing South Korean citizenship is an irreversible decision. According to Article 9 of South Korea’s Nationality Act, individuals who renounce their citizenship to avoid conscription cannot regain it, making them ineligible for future governmental aid or permanenat residency.
Long road ahead
Advocates have called for greater flexibility in the system, such as allowing alternative forms of service outside prison settings or extending the deadline for renunciation. They urge policymakers to re-evaluate conscription policies in light of changing demographics and security threats.
As the debate continues, many Korean Americans remain caught in the middle, forced to make difficult choices that could have lasting implications for their lives and identities.
Lucy Guo’s creator platform Passes accused of child exploitation in lawsuit
A class action lawsuit filed in federal court on Feb. 26 has accused subscription platform Passes and its co-founder Lucy Guo of knowingly distributing sexually explicit content featuring minors.
The allegations
Lead plaintiff Alice Rosenblum alleges that Passes — where creators share exclusive content with paying subscribers — facilitated the distribution of child pornography, including content featuring herself when she was allegedly a minor. The 31-paged lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, names multiple defendants, including Alec Celestin, who is alleged “agent” of Passes, and Lani Ginoza, a former “director of talent.”
The complaint details a scheme where defendants allegedly recruited underage girls to create explicit content before turning 18, with such material then distributed to paying subscribers.
Between July and September 2024, Celestin and Ginoza allegedly instructed 17-year-old Rosenblum to “create images and videos of herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct” and upload them to the platform’s data storage system called “The Vault.”
The lawsuit further alleges that while Passes technically allowed creators aged 15 to 17 to join with enhanced protections (including parental consent requirements), Guo “personally intervened to override Passes’ strict internal safety controls” designed to protect minors. On or about Feb. 24, options for minors to join and details of these safeguards reportedly “vanished” from the platform’s terms and conditions.
Company response
In a statement to The Rebel Yellow, a spokesperson for Passes refuted the allegations:
“This lawsuit is a misguided attempt to defame our company for monetary gain, and any suggestion that Passes’ conduct was wrong or improper is false. As a brand-friendly platform, Passes maintains best-in-class safety and privacy standards, and we have strict policies against the exact type of alleged content included in this complaint. To the extent the claimant, or her talent manager Alec Celestin, uploaded this type of inappropriate content, it was a direct violation of Passes’ Terms of Service, its Community Guidelines and everything Passes stands for.”
Founded in 2022, Miami-based Passes has positioned itself as providing “the tools to help creators become entrepreneurs.” The platform claims more than 500,000 subscribers and 1,000 content creators, including names like Olivia Dunne, Kygo, Emma Norton, Shaquille O'Neal and Bella Thorne. The company secured $40 million in funding from investors in early 2024, part of over $49 million raised between July 2023 and February 2024.
About Lucy Guo
Guo, 30, has built a notable career in tech prior to the current controversy. She co-founded artificial intelligence company Scale AI with Alexandr Wang in 2016 before leaving in 2018. After her departure, Scale AI went on to raise $1 billion at a $13.8 billion valuation.
Guo studied computer science at Carnegie Mellon University but dropped out to become a Thiel Fellow, receiving a $100,000 grant created by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel to encourage young entrepreneurs to pursue business ventures instead of traditional education. She was recently ranked 64th by Forbes’ on their “America’s Self-Made Women” list.
Guo’s response
Guo rejected the accusations in a lengthy X post on Sunday. “The lawsuit, at least as it is related to Passes AND myself, is utterly meritless,” she wrote in part. “I HAD ZERO interaction with the plaintiff. I do not have any contact information of hers.”
She also distanced the company from Celestin, stating he “was not an agent of passes nor was he ever an employee” and claimed the platform has “always taken action on violations swiftly” when reported.
Legal challenges
This is not Passes’ first legal battle. In January 2024, competitor Fanfix sued the platform, accusing Guo and Celestin of unfair business practices and attempting to recruit creators using stolen confidential information.
The current suit has also reopened wounds related to Passes’ acquisition of FanHouse in 2023. Rosie Nguyen, FanHouse’s founder, wrote on X that she “strongly and publicly opposed” the acquisition and eventually resigned, rejecting “all offers of pay/equity to make sure I had no part in the acquisition, as I personally believed Passes to be a morally corrupt company.”
In response, Guo disputed this characterization, claiming Nguyen “was upset she could not buy Fanhouse for $200k and we bought it instead” and had privately apologized.
The class action suit, filed jointly by law firms Clark Smith Villazor and Schwartz Breslin, alleges violations in federal and state child pornography laws. The complaint seeks a jury trial, monetary damages and court orders to stop the alleged practices.
A Berkeley historian unravels America’s immigration myths
As President Donald Trump implements a draconian immigration policy, University of California, Berkeley historian Hidetaka Hirota reveals how today’s situation reflects centuries-old patterns in U.S. history.
“Trump is really outstanding, in a sense. He is bold,” Hirota, who studies immigration law history, tells UC Berkeley News. “But at the same time, his language, his approach, the way he views immigration were actually built on earlier discourses.”
Beyond the “nation of immigrants” myth: Contrary to popular belief, America has never had open borders. “There was no period in American history where borders were entirely open,” Hirota explains. From colonial times, communities excluded “paupers” or “vagrants” — practices that evolved into formal immigration policies by the mid-19th century. The celebrated image of America welcoming immigrants emerged only during the Cold War.
Economic interests clash with exclusion: Throughout American history, conflicts persisted between those benefiting from immigrant labor and groups opposing newcomers. For one, railroad companies opposed Chinese exclusion because they depended on Chinese workers, yet exclusionary policies like the 1885 Foran Act prevailed — though businesses routinely circumvented these restrictions, Hirota notes.
Citizenship’s fragile protection: For Asian Americans, legal citizenship often failed to provide protection. During World War II, two-thirds of incarcerated Japanese Americans, Hirota recalls, were U.S. citizens whose rights were violated. Similarly, many Mexican American citizens were forcibly sent to Mexico during the Depression despite being born in the U.S.
Racial patterns in policy: Hirota argues that 1924-1943 marked the most restrictive period in immigration history, as it was during these years when policies explicitly halted Asian immigration while limiting European arrivals. Later, refugee policies favored Europeans but faced intense opposition when shifting to include Vietnamese and Latin Americans in the 1970s.
These patterns continue to shape immigrant experiences today, particularly for Asian American communities. “Threats to citizenship today are just the latest chapter of this long history,” Hirota notes.
Career criminal sentenced for violent anti-Asian hate crime in SoCal
A man with an extensive criminal record has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for a racially motivated attack on an Asian American woman in Culver City, California, on June 14, 2021.
What happened: Jesse Allen Lindsey, 38, who was a transient at the time, followed the victim as she walked to work at around 1 a.m. on the 13300 block of Washington Boulevard. He yelled that she “didn’t belong here,” struck her in the head and left her bloodied on the street.
The aftermath: The victim, described as a middle-aged Asian woman, suffered injuries to her head and ear that required hospitalization and was unable to work for a month. She has also since suffered psychological trauma.
What he said: Lindsey falsely claimed self-defense during a police interview, describing the 5-foot-tall victim as a “little Asian person” who was “mouthy” and looked like a “gangbanger.” He also said the woman might pull “some Jet Li [expletive].”
Not the first time: At Monday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald called the attack a “shocking and horrible crime” and noted Lindsey’s “serious criminal record,” which includes 13 prior convictions.
Lindsey, who fled California after the attack and was eventually found serving time in state prison for an unrelated conviction, has been in federal custody since July 2024. He pleaded guilty to one count of a hate crime in December.
Ph.D. student convicted as one of U.K.’s “most prolific sexual predators”
Chinese national and University College London Ph.D. student Zhenhao Zou, 28, has been convicted of drugging and raping 10 women in what police describe as potentially “one of the most prolific sexual predators” in British history.
Conviction: Zou was found guilty of 28 charges including 11 counts of rape against 10 women, 10 counts of possession of an extreme pornographic image, three counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offense, three counts of voyeurism and one count of false imprisonment. The crimes took place between 2019 and 2024 in both London and China.
How he did it: Zou invited women — mostly Chinese — to his flats for drinks or to study, then drugged them with substances such as GHB. He filmed nine of his assaults as “souvenirs” and kept a trophy box of his victims’ belongings, including jewelry and clothing. Most victims were unconscious or semi-conscious in the videos.
About Zou: Zou comes from a wealthy Chinese family, affording a 4,000 pound($5,100) monthly rent, designer clothes and cosmetic procedures. He arrived in the U.K. in 2017 to study at Queen’s University Belfast before moving to UCL in 2019 for his Master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
What authorities are saying: Police recovered a total of 58 videos of Zou raping women, with 32 believed to have been recorded in the U.K. Metropolitan Police Commander Kevin Southworth called Zou “predatory and cowardly” and revealed that the videos suggest 50 additional potential victims.
Judge Rosina Cottage warned Zou he faces a “very long” jail term when he is sentenced on June 19. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Zou can contact the Metropolitan Police via the Major Incident Public Portal.
Eating miso and kimchi could ease anxiety and depression, study finds
A groundbreaking study by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School and Singapore’s National Neuroscience Institute has found that probiotic foods such as miso, kimchi and other fermented products may play a crucial role in easing anxiety and depression by regulating brain activity through the gut-brain axis.
Published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine earlier this month, the study reveals that gut microbes produce molecules called indoles, which directly influence brain activity linked to anxiety. The findings offer promising new insights into how dietary interventions could improve mental health outcomes.
About the study
The research team conducted pre-clinical tests on mice to explore the connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behavior. They found that germ-free mice — those raised without exposure to live microbes — displayed heightened anxiety behaviors compared to mice with normal gut microbiota. Further analysis showed that the absence of gut microbes led to increased activity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain region responsible for processing fear and anxiety.
“Our findings reveal the specific and intricate neural process that links microbes to mental health,” said Shawn Je, one of the study’s lead authors. “Essentially, the lack of these microbes disrupted the way their brains functioned, particularly in areas that control fear and anxiety.”
Key findings
The study identified that microbial metabolites — specifically indoles — produced by gut microbes play a direct role in regulating neuronal activity in the BLA. When the germ-free mice were treated with indoles, their anxiety-related behaviors were significantly reduced. Additionally, introducing live microbes into the mice’s guts restored normal brain activity and reduced anxiety.
“Our findings underscore the deep evolutionary links between microbes, nutrition and brain function,” said Patrick Tan, senior vice-dean for research at Duke-NUS. “This has huge potential for people suffering from stress-related conditions, such as sleep disorders or those unable to tolerate standard psychiatric medications.”
The research team plans to explore clinical trials to daetermine if indole-based probiotics or supplements can effectively treat anxiety in humans. The scientists believe that such therapies could represent a breakthrough in precision medicine by offering personalized treatments based on an individual's gut microbiota.
Why this matters
Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders globally, with millions of people seeking effective treatments. Current medications often come with side effects or limited efficacy, making the prospect of probiotic-based therapies particularly appealing.
The results could have significant implications for Asian American communities, where mental health issues are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Despite the disproportionate rates of mental health challenges, a separate University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research study found that only 16% of Asian American and 24% of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults desired mental health assistance, similar to the state average. National data also shows Asian American patients receive less inpatient care during mental health crises, highlighting the need for culturally competent providers to improve access and comfort levels.
How Steve Park's experience on the “Friends” set sparked a landmark call for change
When actor and comedian Stephen Park appeared on mega-popular NBC sitcom “Friends” in the late 1990s, he never imagined the experience would lead to a pivotal act of resistance. Recalling his time on the popular sitcom during a recent episode of the “Pod Meets World” podcast, Park described the set as a "toxic environment" where he witnessed a crew member use racist language to refer to fellow guest actor James Hong.
The "Oriental guy" incident: Detailing the incident, Park shared, "James Hong was the actor who was also on the episode with me and [the assistant director] was calling him to the set and you know, essentially saying, ‘Where the fuck is the Oriental guy? Get the Oriental guy.’” He emphasized the normalization of such behavior, stating, “This isn’t the first time that this happened, you know, but this is the environment where this is business as usual in Hollywood in 1997, I guess it was. And nobody felt the need to correct this or say anything about it. So this is normal behavior.”
Breaking the silence: The incident prompted Park to write a powerful open letter that called for better treatment of Asian Americans in Hollywood — a statement that would resonate far beyond the entertainment industry. After filing a complaint with the Screen Actors Guild, he was advised to submit an article to the Los Angeles Times. Though the newspaper interviewed him, the story was never published.
Man with a mission: Park took matters into his own hands by distributing his "mission statement" via email. In the letter, Park connected the dehumanizing incident on the “Friends” set to the broader marginalization of Asian Americans in Hollywood. "If this was an isolated incident, I would not have felt compelled to write this mission statement," he wrote. "Unfortunately, I find this attitude and behavior commonplace in Hollywood." The open letter brought heightened attention to the systemic racism and mistreatment faced by Asian Americans in Hollywood and sparked conversations about representation and inclusivity within the entertainment industry.
Cost of courage: While Park's bold stand made him a quiet pioneer in the fight for representation, the emotional toll was profound. "I had become so race-conscious and so angry that I was looking at everything through the lens of race," Park admitted. The experience led him to step away from acting, a hiatus that some mistakenly interpreted as being blacklisted. Over the years, Park gradually returned to the screen, building a career that includes collaborations with acclaimed directors Bong Joon-ho (“Mickey 17”) and Wes Anderson (“Asteroid City”).
Unfriendly reputation: Park's experience adds to the growing retrospective scrutiny of "Friends," a show now frequently criticized for its lack of diversity and its perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. While a cultural phenomenon of its time, the series has faced increasing criticism in recent years for its all-white main cast and its portrayal of people of color, often reduced to stereotypical or tokenistic roles.