Seoul, South Korea: Community Leaders Voice Support at Rally and March to Mark 25 Years of Peaceful Resistance to the Persecution

(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from all over South Korea held an exercise demonstration, rally, and march on Seoul Plaza in front of the Seoul City Hall on July 16, 2024, to mark 25 years of practitioners’ efforts to peacefully protest the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution.

Practitioners on Seoul Plaza do the exercises together on July 16.

Seoul Plaza in the center of Seoul is a popular destination, and many passing tourists stopped to observe the activities.

Practitioners’ rally on Seoul Plaza on July 16

South Korean Falun Dafa Association: Practitioners in China Are Still Being Persecuted

At the rally after the exercise demonstration, community leaders spoke to condemn the CCP’s persecution and urge people to learn more.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Falun Gong Protection Act on June 25, 2024, having already passed five resolutions condemning the persecution over the past 25 years. Dr. Wu Seyeol, general secretary of the Falun Dafa Association in South Korea, said at the rally, “Regarding the ‘Falun Gong Protection Act’ that was unanimously passed in the U.S. House, what drew my attention was the core mission of this bill: ‘to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to forced organ harvesting within the People’s Republic of China,’ because China’s organ transplant industry grew out of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong.”

Mr. Wu believes that South Korea has played a supporting role. “South Korean doctors train Chinese doctors to do organ transplants and then encourage their South Korean patients go to China [for organ transplants]. South Korea is consequently known as the country with the greatest demand for organs,” he said.

Dr. Wu Seyeol, general secretary of the Falun Dafa Association in South Korea

Kwon Hong-dae, president of the South Korean Falun Dafa Association, read the association’s statement.

Kwon Hong-dae, president of the South Korean Falun Dafa Association, then read the association’s statement about how practitioners have been persecuted by the CCP and that Falun Dafa has spread outside China. He pointed out that the most evil crime being committed by the CCP is forcibly extracting and selling Falun Gong practitioners’ organs. “Even though it’s difficult for many people to believe, evidence from multiple objective investigations shows that Falun Gong practitioners in China are still suffering this kind of persecution.”

“Falun Gong’s Core Values Are Universal”

Guest speakers also celebrated the passage of the Falun Gong Protection Act and voiced support for practitioners’ 25 years of peacefully protesting the persecution.

Spiritual teacher Gang Seokjeong speaks at the rally

When spiritual teacher Gang Seokjeong heard that the U.S. House passed the Falun Gong Protection Act unanimously, he cheered as he walked on stage, saying “Long live Falun Dafa!” and extended his congratulations.

He said that, as a spiritual teacher, he’d read and studied Falun Dafa books, and he thought that if everyone read Zhuan Falun and followed what it said, the world would become a truly peaceful place. He also said that it brought peace to his body, heart, and soul and encouraged everyone to read it.

Dayner Kim, host of a YouTube channel

Dayner Kim, the host of a YouTube channel with around 280,000 subscribers, live-streamed the event on his channel as he spoke.

He said, “Why am I against the CCP? Because South Korea has been extremely troubled by it. On the surface, the CCP claims economic cooperation, but in reality, it sent countless spies; persecutes Falun Gong; meddles with South Korea’s politics, economy, society, and culture; and attempts to control and invade South Korea.”

Han Min-ho, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and founder and president of Citizens for Unmasking Confucius Institutes (CUCI)

Han Min-ho, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the founder and president of Citizens for Unmasking Confucius Institutes (CUCI), said, “The South Korean government should participate in stopping the persecution of Falun Gong. It should impose sanctions and visa restrictions on the people involved. This means that South Korea needs to draft legislation like America has done.”

The CCP expected to eradicate Falun Gong in three months. After 25 years, however, not only was Falun Gong not wiped out, it is now practiced in over 100 countries. Mr. Han believes that one decisive factor was Falun Gong’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. “Falun Gong’s core values are universal. Whether it’s in the East or West, its values teach one how to be a good person and how one should act toward other people,” he said.

Yoon Yong, president of “TV for League of Expulsion of Impropriety and Corruption”

Yoon Yong, the president of “TV for the League of Expulsion of Impropriety and Corruption,” said that after 25 years of persecution, the Falun Gong Protection Act was too long in coming. He congratulated Falun Dafa practitioners and reminded them to remain confident and continue to practice.

Attorney Seo Seok-gu

“I saw the report today that detailed the persecution Falun Gong has suffered and information about opposing the persecution. The U.S. House’s unanimous passage of the bill is very significant and will be an opportunity for Falun Gong to spread further,” said attorney Seo Seok-gu.

Others who were unable to attend but sent letters included: Kim Ho-il, President of Korean Elderly Association; Chai Byeong-man, President of the National Council of Freedom, Democracy, and Patriotism that represents 80 citizen groups; Jeong Seong-san, Director of YouTube channel “Jeong Seong-san TV;” and Lee Jeong-chan, Chairman of Seoul Southern Newspaper.

March Exposes the Persecution

After the rally, the Tian Guo Marching Band led practitioners on a march from Seoul Plaza down many popular streets. People left their buildings to listen to the band play. Because it was lunchtime, many people stopped to watch the procession.

Falun Dafa practitioners’ march in Seoul on July 16

Mr. Yang, 65, a retired teacher, said, “Many South Koreans that don’t know the truth thought the organs were donated and went to China to get transplant surgeries. But once they know the truth, this demand will disappear and the crime of live organ harvesting will stop. I hope this can be known to people as soon as possible, so South Korea’s bad reputation of being an accomplice to forced organ harvesting will be no more.

“I hope the persecution ends soon. By following the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, we can live in a peaceful world.”

Mr. Sugio, a Japanese tourist

Mr. Sugio, a tourist from Japan, said, “I followed the march and took photos ... As I walked, I learned how to write the characters for ‘Falun Dafa.’ I agree with and support stopping the persecution of its practitioners.”