"Further, my wife and I reject the hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign," he said.

He was already benefitting from credulous coverage from mainstream news organizations repackaging his open hatred of medical science as "tough" on Big Pharma or "promoting" healthy diets, all of which is flat-out false.

But after half a century of tyrannical rule from a regime which fanned sectarian hatred and warned that Alawites would be massacred if they ever lost power, it is an adjustment to say the least.

People living with perceived misokinesia - a diagnosable hatred of fidgeting - call it "life limiting" and say they're buoyed by it becoming recognised as a medical condition.

Initially his party members protected him, eager to save their own political skins, and consumed by their hatred of South Korea's opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, who they fear will become president if Yoon is removed.