Chinese Embassy Confesses to Attempts in Preventing Shen Yun Performances in South Korea

“We find it concerning that an American dance company is facing restrictions on performing in South Korea due to pressure from communist China,” stated U.S. Rep. Malliotakis. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been exerting behind-the-scenes influence on theaters in South Korea and globally for years, urging them not to host New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts. More recently, a Chinese communist official admitted that the regime is actively working to prevent the U.S. company from performing in South Korea. Zhang Jiafan, public relations officer at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, confirmed that they have been informing the Korean side of their opposition to Shen Yun’s performances. The Chinese Embassy insists that allowing Shen Yun to apply for permission to perform in Korean theaters is not legal. This admission unveils the extent of the Chinese authorities’ campaign to manipulate policies in their favor, even on foreign soil. Shen Yun Performing Arts, headquartered in New York, aims to portray 5,000 years of Chinese heritage through classical dance and music. Their eight companies tour the world annually, performing at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., and Palais des Congrès in Paris. The CCP has consistently targeted Shen Yun for nearly two decades, employing various tactics such as phone calls, letters, personal visits, and more to disrupt their shows. Shen Yun is prohibited from performing in China due to its representation of classical Chinese culture and the Communist Party’s efforts to suppress it, including the persecution of religious groups like Falun Gong practitioners. The Chinese Embassy official claims that they do not threaten Korean entities and government officials, but rather provide them with information that they are unaware of. Documents obtained from The Epoch Times reveal Beijing’s coercive tactics, including threats to theaters by the Chinese embassy, warning of financial and diplomatic repercussions if they choose to host Shen Yun. In one instance, South Korea’s Incheon Culture and Arts Center rejected Shen Yun’s application for its 2023 tour due to concerns about potential strain on relations with China. The Chinese embassy also wrote to the national broadcaster Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), demanding that they not allow Shen Yun to perform at KBS Hall in Seoul. A court battle in 2016 demonstrated Beijing’s ability to exert influence in South Korea through investment ties. Initially, the court sided with Shen Yun, but reversed its decision 48 hours before the performance, citing the potential loss of broadcasting rights in China and financial losses for KBS. Shen Yun had to refund all tickets as a result. Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, believes this case highlights China’s leveraging of economic ties to exert influence in South Korea, interfering with fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Korean constitution. China is South Korea’s largest trade partner, and the regime utilizes this leverage to its advantage. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis points out that China is known for exerting pressure on other countries to further its own interests, whether through international organizations like the UN, loans to smaller nations, language programs at U.S. universities, or covert police stations in New York. She is not surprised that the CCP is now targeting theaters that promote traditional Chinese culture, particularly before the influence of communism. Ms. Malliotakis emphasizes the importance of challenging these actions at every opportunity. Tara O, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute focusing on South Korea, characterizes China’s interference campaign as a form of cultural warfare, aimed at preventing South Koreans from experiencing this culture firsthand. The regime fears Shen Yun because it contradicts their desire for dominance and control, proving that China could be governed by authorities other than the CCP. Ms. Malliotakis, who recently met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, observes that South Korean leaders are seeking opportunities to reduce their dependence on China and strengthen ties with the United States. As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means responsible for trade negotiations, Ms. Malliotakis intends to express her dissatisfaction with the situation to South Korean officials and hopes they will rectify it, allowing Shen Yun to perform in theaters. She emphasizes that Shen Yun presents beautiful traditional dance and shares Chinese culture, which should be celebrated and shared.



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