South Korean Court Ruling: Cancellation of Shen Yun Shows Due to CCP Pressure Is Illegal

(Minghui.org) A court in Chuncheon, South Korea ruled on April 30, 2025 that Kangwon National University’s cancellation of Shen Yun shows was illegal. Shen Yun's shows will go on as scheduled.

Court in Chuncheon city, South Korea

Details of the Court Case

Kangwon National University approved Shen Yun Performing Art’s application to perform at the Baeckryung Art Center from May 6-7, 2025 on April 1 of this year.

The Chinese embassy in South Korea raised objections to the university’s international cultural department afterwards. Kangwon National University then issued a formal letter to the presenter of Shen Yun's shows on April 16, notifying them that they were revoking the approval to use the venue.

According to documents attached to the letter, the university said: there are over 500 Chinese students on campus, and these students’ negative feelings towards Shen Yun shows have escalated. If the shows went on as scheduled, it could lead to protests by the students, and worse still, potential incidents such as clashes. Hence the school decided to cancel the shows for fear of disrupting public order.

According to insiders, the Korea Education department and Kangwon National university were pressured by higher organizations to revoke the use of the venue.

Representatives from the Falun Dafa Association in Korea, the presenter of Shen Yun shows, said that they learned of the Chinese embassy’s and Korean government’s involvement and sent a letter to the head of the education department, requesting an investigation into officials involved in the matter and to hold them accountable.

The Falun Dafa association also asked the department to adopt measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring. At the same time, representatives from the association went to Kangwon National University administration and pointed out that it was against the law for them to cancel the shows. They asked the school to help ensure that the shows went on as scheduled.

In addition, the presenters of the show filed a lawsuit against the South Korea government and applied for a temporary injunction.

The court made a ruling on the afternoon of April 30 that Kangwon National University’s action of canceling the shows was illegal. Shen Yun will perform as scheduled.

Court Ruling: Temporary Injunction Necessary

Below is the court ruling:

From 2007 to 2024 (except for 2021 and 2022), Shen Yun has held many shows in South Korea every year. In particular, the group held two successful shows at Baeckryung Art Center in 2017. There were no protests or clashes then. Even though the center thought Chinese students may hold protests or clash with the audience on the day the shows are held, without any evidence to support this, it is difficult to justify that canceling the shows falls within the scope of reasonable discretion based on such vague concerns. Therefore, Kangwon National University’s decision to cancel the approval constitutes an abuse of discretion and is considered illegal.

Furthermore, the court also pointed out that after obtaining approval from the venue on April 1, the plaintiff received the go-ahead from the image rating committee to promote the shows and carried out preparation work such as advertising. Around 62 percent of the seats were sold, with 20 days until the shows were to start. The plaintiff’s credibility and reputation would be irreversibly damaged if the shows were canceled so close to the performance date. In consideration of all information and circumstances, the court decided that it was necessary to issue a temporary injunction.

Court Ruling a Turning Point for Stopping Chinese Embassies' Interference with Shen Yun Performances

Wu Shilie, secretary of the Korea Falun Dafa Association, said, “This ruling amounts to the court publicly announcing, for the past 18 years, the CCP’s attempt to stop Shen Yun performances and its embassies’ interference in South Korea’s internal politics and actions, which violates cultural sovereignty, is against the law. Furthermore, it is suspected that the education department was involved in the venue’s cancellation of the shows, and as a public university, the Kangwon university represents the position of the government, and the defendant in this lawsuit is the Republic of Korea. This rings a warning bell to the government’s pro-CCP stance. The court ruling on this occasion marks a turning point for Chinese embassies' interfering in Shen Yun shows.”

Shen Yun will perform in Daegu, Chuncheon and Gwacheon from May 1 to 10.