Shen Yun Presents 14 Performances in Three South Korean Cities: “A Road of Hope for the Future”

(Minghui.org) Shen Yun World Company presented 14 performances in three cities in South Korea: Busan, Gumi, and Seoul from February 2-19, 2023. This was the first season that Shen Yun returned to South Korea since the pandemic.

Shen Yun World Company at the Sohyang Theatre in Busan on February 2, kicking off the company’s 2023 South Korea tour. (The Epoch Times)

On February 8, Shen Yun World Company presented two performances at the Gumi Arts Center–Grand Hall in Gumi. (The Epoch Times)

Shen Yun World Company presented two performances to packed houses at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on February 15. (The Epoch Times)

“An Emperor’s Feast”

Mr. Kang Young-man, a film director and executive chairman of the Seoul Webfest, at the Shen Yun performance in Seoul on February 15 (The Epoch Times)

“Shen Yun is so special. Watching it was like being invited to attend an emperor’s feast!” said Mr. Kang. He said he had never attended a show like Shen Yun, which he said was “fascinating.”

“From the beginning to the end, everything about Shen Yun, the costumes, backdrop, stage, especially the profound meaning that the dances deliver, oh—everything is wonderful. They perfectly coordinated with each other so tightly. It’s really magnificent,” he said.

“The dance movements are very touching. With the great music and beautiful 3-D scenes on the backdrop, everything cooperated with each other perfectly. It’s majestic!” said Mr. Kang, who added that he was very impressed by the male Tibetan dance.

Mr. Kang appreciated Shen Yun’s tour of South Korea, and his opportunity to attend the performance.

“Shen Yun does a great job, and it has a big impact and meaning for us. It presents excellent traditional Chinese costumes, music, culture, and history. It’s fantastic... It’s very astounding—it’s fabulous!” he said.

“Most Worthy of Long-lasting Enjoyment and Resonating Together”

Mr. Choi Jeong-je, film director, at the Shen Yun performance in Seoul on February 15 (The Epoch Times)

Mr. Choi Jeong-je, film director, saw Shen Yun in Seoul on February 15.

“This is an excellent performance in human culture that is very precious and most worthy of long-lasting enjoyment and resonating together!... It’s great to witness such high-realm performing arts,” Mr. Choi said.

“Korea also has a Confucian culture that is similar to that of China, and there are parts that are communicable to those of China. In the various stage stories today, I feel that there were many intersections between the two nations in ethical principles and culture.

“Shen Yun’s dances did not only show the life of the Chinese ethnicity, but also many traditional stories. This was the first time in a long time that I have seen an authentic Chinese artistic performance. I’m very happy. The theme of the performance today was to advise people to be kind, to live harmoniously, and to enjoy happiness together. I hope that in the future there will be more opportunities for modern people to enjoy Chinese traditional arts that were not ruled by the CCP,” he said.

“Shen Yun Is Something Created By the Divine”

Mr. Seo Chang-Seok, president of the Education Center at the Allak College of Chungnyeolsa, at the Shen Yun performance in Busan on February 2 (The Epoch Times)

“Shen Yun is something created by the divine... No words can describe how touched I am by Shen Yun,” Mr. Seo said.

“This is an amazing performance. It’s majestic!... The scenes on stage convey the teachings of divine beings. They are enormous and grand.

“The choreography put all the 5,000 years of Chinese history inside the dances. The pictures that the dancers presented are gorgeous. The music, artistry, and expressions are extraordinary. With the brilliant costumes, the performance is amazing!” he said.

Mr. Seo said the dancers coordinated with each other so precisely as if they were “one person’s movements. This level is extremely difficult to reach.”

“This show is not something you’d typically see. You can’t imagine how great it is. It’s like heavenly maidens are dancing for us. It’s outstanding,” he said.

Mr. Seo was surprised by Shen Yun’s backdrop. “That a human being can make this kind of dynamic backdrop—what an awesome creation!” he said.

He was impressed by the concepts Shen Yun delivered to him, which he summed up in three words: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

“I was very touched by these three words. We all should recite these three words. We should remember them in our hearts,” he said.

Mr. Seo appreciated Shen Yun’s director. He said “the director created this miraculous performance” that is“inspiring and uplifting audiences” like himself.

“This Performance Deserves the Highest Praise”

Literary Master Choi Sang-yoon at the Shen Yun performance in Busan on February 5 (The Epoch Times)

Literary Master Choi Sang-yoon saw Shen Yun in Busan on February 5.

“Shen Yun is reviving traditional values in the big dye vat of modern ideologies. This brave work has a far-reaching significance, which is beyond any ideology or -ism,” said Mr. Choi, who is an honorary professor at Dong-A University, the chairman of the Korean Art and Culture Critics Association, the chairman of the Art City Busan forum, and a consultant of the Busan Federation of Art Organizations.

“I was deeply moved by Shen Yun. This performance is a collection of all the great achievements in China’s civilization,” he said.

“Everybody knows this is an ancient traditional art. But Shen Yun uses the animated backdrop which is the most advanced technology. No matter what background an audience is, he or she will say wow when they see Shen Yun.

“This is an awesome technology. It’s full of vividness and realism. It’s very valuable... You can’t find any creative design that is comparable to Shen Yun’s backdrop. This performance deserves the highest praise.

“Shen Yun frequently has over a dozen dancers dancing together. I thought one or two dancers may make a mistake. Surprisingly, all the dancers danced so synchronously. Their movements are very difficult to do and require high technical skills. But they didn’t make any mistakes. They danced like one body. I suggest our Korean artists learn from Shen Yun,” he said.

Regarding Shen Yun’s presentation of traditional values and virtues, Mr. Choi said he received these messages, by which he was “very touched.”

“Korean history is that of the nobility... What Shen Yun presents includes nobility, such as emperors, generals, etc., and ordinary people as well. This is a brand-new experience for me,” he said.

Mr. Choi expressed his respect to Shen Yun’s Artistic Director.

“I fully respect the artistic director. He organized so many different art forms together that includes the live orchestra under the stage... He isn’t an ordinary person. He has extraordinary knowledge and wisdom. I admire him. He is really amazing!” he said.

Mr. Choi has attended Shen Yun three times. He said he won’t feel tired of it no matter how many times he watches Shen Yun.

“This Is the Truth”

Mr. Kim Sung-jin, professor at Pusan National University, at the Shen Yun performance in Busan on February 2. (The Epoch Times)

Mr. Kim said he understood something very profound from watching Shen Yun. He said a new world is being built, and the door to enter the new world is to be a kind person. To him, the key values that Shen Yun delivered could be summarized with three words: truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

“In the history of world civilizations, truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance were common concepts people pursued. Compassion means being kind. Tolerance includes withstanding pressure and sticking to one’s values until the end. Then we will be accepted by a beautiful world. The new world is inside truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance,” Mr. Kim said.

As a sinologist, Mr. Kim knows traditional Chinese culture very well. He said Shen Yun is saving and presenting the real Chinese culture, which is very important.

“I can feel that Shen Yun is presenting the long-standing culture through dance movements,” he said.

Mr. Kim said human beings are facing an unprecedented crisis, and he saw a road of hope in Shen Yun.

“The Chinese Communist regime’s virus is trying to harm all of us. We are trying all measures to stop the pandemic. I understood from Shen Yun that this epidemic will be eliminated... The force which can solve the issues is the principles that the Creator gave us, which include truthfulness and kindness,” he said.

“The light of the Law Wheel [seen in the performance] is sweeping away the darkness and guiding the world toward the right direction... From Shen Yun, I understand that the good and the kind will overcome evil’s suppression, and these people will enter that new world.

“When all the divine beings arrived from the heavens, this is the truth. I want to say that there’s truth here. It is beyond any single religion, and is actually what all religions aim for – that is truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.

“There are a few programs in Shen Yun that tell of how to get rid of ill fortune. It’s by following truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. I think people who find themselves without these principles should come to see Shen Yun and change their mindsets. Then they will have the opportunity to enter the new world,” he said.

“I Was Very Touched”

Mr. Park Sun-je, president of Busan Free Christian Federation, at the Shen Yun performance in Busan on February 2 (The Epoch Times)

Mr. Park Sun-je saw Shen Yun in Busan on February 2. Mr. Park is currently 95 years old. He was very touched after seeing Shen Yun and said he “would die without regret because I attended this amazing performance.”

“Human beings are very depraved. Shen Yun is restoring people’s morality. It shows that divine beings are saving people before they are to perish. This is formidable. I was very touched,” Mr. Park said.

He was impressed by Shen Yun artists’ skills and techniques but said he was moved by their cooperation even more.

“The artists coordinated with each other accurately. I saw their restraint. I saw they all tolerate and support others. This is marvelous. I had a great time,” he said.

Mr. Park was also surprised by the dynamic backdrop. “The technique is superb. It’s fabulous,” he said.

“An Absolute Must-see”

Mr. Kim Sung-woo, chairman of Canaan Farmer’s Education Group of Canaan Education Center, at the Shen Yun performance in Busan on February 4 (The Epoch Times)

“The performance is quite outstanding. It’s very encouraging... Shen Yun is amazing because of its music, dance, high-tech backdrop, and splendid scenes on stage. It’s astoundingly majestic!” Mr. Kim said.

“The male dancers have very high skills. They danced masculinely and valiantly. The female dancers are very slim and elegant. Their movements are gorgeously beautiful,” he said.

Regarding the live orchestra, he said, “Each melody is very touching, and coordinates with the dance perfectly... I believe perfection is based on the great self-cultivation of the artists.”

“On this trip, I saw the future and the road ahead. I saw the wonderful resurrection. I saw the Creator. And I obtained hope.

“This show is uplifting us. It brings us hope and an expectation for the future. This is an absolute must-see... I hope everybody can attend Shen Yun. I hope I can attend in the future,” he said.

“Shen Yun Can Reach the Deep End of Audiences’ Souls”

Ms. Yoo Min-na, flute virtuoso, at the Shen Yun performance in Busan on February 4 (The Epoch Times)

“The orchestra of Shen Yun gave a strong performance... I hope I can take my students here to attend Shen Yun, and then they can see what a great performance should be,” Ms. Yoo said.

“Shen Yun is a comprehensive artistic performance. Overall, it’s perfect... The live orchestra’s performance accurately coordinates with the dances. Actually, everything cooperates seamlessly with each other to make Shen Yun perfect as a whole.

“Shen Yun is one of the top performances in the world... I feel Shen Yun can reach the deep end of audiences’ souls. It’s majestic and splendid!

“It’s great to use art to pass down traditional culture. It’s admirable... I was inspired by Shen Yun. Now I want to know more about China before communism,” she said.

“Shen Yun Does Not Seem to Come from Our World”

Jao Lan-ing, president of a hotel, at the Shen Yun performance in Gumi on February 8 (The Epoch Times)

“Very dream-like. Shen Yun does not seem to come from our world. The performance was very excellent,” Ms. Jao said.

“The scene of heavenly beings arriving from heaven touched me very much. My heart kept pounding,” she said of the opening scene. As for the final piece, she said, “At the end, the Lord Buddha came out and heavenly maidens came. It told us: people should live upholding morality.”

“People should live by human moral values... We should live like the kind people in the show. Some people make other people suffer, kill people whenever things don’t go their way or make disastrous mistakes. We cannot live like that,” she said.

“Shen Yun Is a Huge Gift to Us Humans”

Mr. Park Il-jung, former speaker of the Gimcheon City Council and president of Umok Tree Arboretum, at the Shen Yun performance in Gumi on February 8 (The Epoch Times)

“Shen Yun brought a great production to Gumi City. After attending Shen Yun, I’m very pleased, and my body is full of energy. I feel we [Korean people] will be very lucky from now on,” Mr. Park said.

“Shen Yun purified our souls. I feel the whole universe and the human world have become more transparent, cleaner, and elevated to a place of more positive energy. Shen Yun is a huge gift to us humans!” he said.

Mr. Park was surprised by Shen Yun’s animated backdrop. “The dancers were dancing on stage. They were dancing and dancing. Suddenly, they jumped into the air. In the next second, they were inside the backdrop! They flew away... The design is so magical!” he said.

Mr. Park liked that Shen Yun’s programs mentioned heaven. “Seeing the vastness and beautiful scenes of the universe, I was full of enthusiasm. I felt divine beings were bringing us great dreams. Then my brain had images that heavenly maidens were coming to us,” he said with a big smile.

“I felt, the dancers have a broad mind. They danced so happily and cheerfully,... Watching their dances, I felt that I was young again. My heart was even dancing with them.

“Shen Yun presented human dignity, the greatness of life, and the importance of loyalty and filial piety.

“Shen Yun is a life experience. Each and every person must attend at least once... Shen Yun gives us hope. I felt it rebuilds our spirits. I know my life will be happier and more glorious because I attended Shen Yun,” Mr. Park said.

Upcoming Performances

Shen Yun continues its 2023 tour with upcoming performances in Phoenix, Arizona, February 21–22; Bentonville, Arkansas, February 21; Grand Rapids, Michigan, February 21–22; Salt Lake City, Utah, February 21–25; Ludwigsburg, Germany, February 21–25; Nantes, France, February 21–22; and Miaoli County, Taiwan, February 24–26.