Why Virginia's flag is part of protests targeting South Korea's president

The latest: When investigators were set to arrest him last Friday, the Virginia flag hung outside Gwangju's City Hall due to the state's motto of "sic semper tyrannis" — "thus always to tyrants" — according to a release.

• The flag also depicts a Roman goddess standing atop a conquered king.
• In a Facebook post, the South Korean city's mayor called Yoon a tyrant and said, "It is a fact across all regions and time that anyone who abuses one's power must arrive at one's own destruction," per The Korea Herald.

The intrigue: The flag being used was sent by Gov. Youngkin as a "thank you" for Gwangju's hospitality when the administration visited in November about cooperating in the agricultural sector.

• While gifting the Virginia flag is a longtime tradition unrelated to South Korea's political crisis,  Gwangju's mayor called its arrival "timely."

Go deeper:

• South Korea court issues arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon
• South Korean president faces impeachment vote after failed martial law bid