The Origins and Reality of the Deep State Narrative: From the U.S. to South Korea

Beyond a simple conspiracy theory, this is the story of the ‘Invisible Government’ born from the tension between state secrecy and democracy.

• Understand the historical origins and modern evolution of the ‘Deep State’ narrative.
• Analyze the psychological and social factors that lead people to believe in conspiracy theories.
• Approach the reality of the ‘Invisible Government’ concept through a comparative study of the U.S. and South Korea.

Two Governments, and the ‘Deep State’

In 1964, journalists David Wise and Thomas Ross declared in their book The Invisible Government that “Today, there are two governments in the United States.” This statement penetrates the core of what we now call the Deep State—a powerful secret national security apparatus operating in the shadows of democracy. This article explores how the ‘Deep State’ narrative is not mere fiction but a complex phenomenon born from the real tension between state secrecy and democratic principles.

The narrative began as a specific critique of the CIA but over time morphed into a potent political weapon. This article traces its origins, ideological transformations, and the psychological and technological factors driving its spread. In particular, it compares cases from the U.S. and South Korea to approach the multilayered reality of the ‘Invisible State.’

Part 1: Genesis of Deep State Theory – The CIA and The Invisible Government

Shadows of the Cold War

The concept of the ‘Invisible Government’ emerged in the unique context of the Cold War after World War II. As the U.S. faced the Soviet threat, massive secret intelligence agencies like the CIA gained unprecedented powers beyond the oversight of Congress or the public. They became actors not only in intelligence gathering but also in covert operations and regime changes worldwide.

Core Claims of The Invisible Government (1964)

Unlike later conspiracy theories, Wise and Ross did not claim the CIA acted as a rogue organization independently. The key point was that within the broad framework set by the president and a small advisory group, the CIA had significant autonomy to create events on the ground and influence policy. This exposed the existence of secret diplomacy bypassing the State Department and broke the media silence on CIA covert operations.

CIA’s Overreaction: Fulfilling Its Own Prophecy

The CIA saw the book’s publication as a serious threat. It tried to block publication and even planned to buy all first editions. When that failed, it mobilized media assets to encourage critical reviews.

This overreaction caused a ‘Streisand effect.’ By treating legally sound journalism as a national security threat, the CIA confirmed public suspicions of a powerful, unaccountable secret government. Ultimately, the CIA’s actions transformed the book from investigative reporting into a foundational text for conspiracy theories.

Part 2: Evolution from ‘Invisible Government’ to ‘Deep State’

Terminology Shift and Partisan Adoption

The modern term ‘Deep State’ originates from Turkey’s 1990s term ‘derin devlet,’ referring to secret networks within the military and security agencies. It was introduced to the U.S. by former Republican congressional aide Mike Lofgren, who described the deep state as a symbiotic network of government agencies, lobbyists, and corporate-financial interests—not a secret cabal.

However, during the Trump administration, the concept was weaponized as a partisan tool to describe a group of ‘rogue’ bureaucrats obstructing the elected president’s agenda. While early criticism targeted the ‘secret state’ (CIA) lacking democratic oversight, the modern narrative defines the ‘public state’ (government agencies) itself as the enemy.

Narrative Peak: QAnon

QAnon represents an extreme mutation of the deep state narrative. In its worldview, the deep state is a global cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles, and Donald Trump is portrayed as their savior. This narrative provided ideological justification for real political violence, such as the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack.

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Part 3: The Psychology Behind Believing in the Deep State: Why Are We Drawn to Conspiracy Theories?

Belief in conspiracy theories is not irrational individual deviance but rooted in universal human psychology.

Three Core Psychological Motivations

1. Epistemic Motivation (Desire to Know): Provides simple, clear explanations for a complex world.
2. Existential Motivation (Desire for Control): Identifies clear targets for blame, restoring a sense of control.
3. Social Motivation (Desire to Belong): Sharing ‘special knowledge’ strengthens group identity.

Cognitive Traps and Biases

• Proportionality Bias: Belief that big events must have big causes.
• Confirmation Bias: Selectively accepting information that supports existing beliefs.
• Illusory Pattern Perception: Connecting unrelated events to find intentional patterns.

Digital Amplifiers: Social Media

Social media algorithms prioritize emotional and provocative content to maximize user engagement. This creates echo chambers and filter bubbles where users encounter only similar views, amplifying conspiracy theories. I sometimes notice my own thinking narrowing when watching algorithm-recommended videos. The opacity of these algorithms makes solving the problem even harder.

Table 3.1: Core Psychological Drivers of Conspiracy Belief

Part 4: South Korea’s Deep State – ‘Shadow Government’ and Political Polarization

The ‘Shadow Government’ concept has been weaponized in South Korea’s extreme polarization, showing that the deep state narrative functions as a universal ’enemy template’ applicable in any society.

• Conservative/Right-wing Narrative: Defines political opponents, labor unions, and civic groups as pro-North Korean, anti-state ‘shadow government’ threatening national security.
• Progressive/Left-wing Narrative: Describes a ‘privileged cartel’ composed of prosecutors, conservative media, and conglomerates resisting reform.

These opposing conspiracy theories turn political disagreements into battles of good versus evil, deepening social distrust and division. Do you believe a massive ‘shadow government’ really operates behind our society’s conflicts?

Comparing Deep State Narratives in the U.S. and South Korea

Part 5: The Reality of the Deep State – The Boundary Between Fact and Conspiracy

Conspiracy theories do not arise in a vacuum. The history of actual government deception and secrecy forms their foundation. CIA’s MKUltra project, Watergate, and the Iran-Contra affair prove that governments do plot and lie, creating a ‘Credibility Gap’.

Case 1: JFK Assassination – A Conspiracy of Cover-up, Not Murder

The U.S. House Assassination Committee concluded the CIA was not involved in the Kennedy assassination plot. However, declassified documents show the CIA monitored assassin Oswald beforehand but deliberately withheld related information from the Warren Commission.

Here, the ‘conspiracy’ was not a presidential murder plot but a bureaucratic self-preservation conspiracy to conceal intelligence failures and protect the agency. This cover-up fueled decades of larger conspiracy theories.

Case 2: Peter Dale Scott’s Research – The Line Between Criticism and Conspiracy

Peter Dale Scott documented shocking patterns of “deep politics,” such as the CIA’s alliances with drug traffickers for covert operations. Yet, when he suggested events like the Gulf of Tonkin incident or 9/11 might have been manipulated by deep state forces, he crossed from documented history into conspiracy speculation.

Table 5.1: Distinguishing Facts and Deep State Conspiracy Claims in Key Events

Conclusion: The Invisible Government, an Unending Story

The ‘Invisible Government’ narrative is a powerful political myth rooted in the unresolved tension between secrecy for national security and democratic accountability.

• Key Summary 1: The deep state narrative began as a rational critique of CIA secrecy but gradually devolved into partisan and extreme conspiracy theories.
• Key Summary 2: Belief in conspiracy theories is amplified by universal human psychology seeking certainty and control, and by social media algorithms.
• Key Summary 3: Actual government secrecy and deception created a ‘credibility gap’ that nourishes conspiracy theories but do not prove the existence of a single controlling deep state entity.

To counter the destructive power of such conspiracy theories, efforts must go beyond merely debunking false claims. They require greater transparency and accountable governance to address the root causes of public distrust. When encountering such information, taking a step back and thinking critically is the first step.