.png)
The Korean Falun Dafa Association condemns the Korean Ministry of Justice‘s compliance with the Chinese regime in deporting a Falun Gong practitioner to China. (The Epoch Times)
The Seoul-Korean Falun Dafa Association held a press conference in front of the government complex in Gwacheon, Seoul, on July 2, to protest the Korean Ministry of Justice (MOJ) yielding to pressure from the Chinese communist regime to deport a Chinese Falun Gong practitioner living in South Korea.
“It is a shame that the Seoul government, which condemns China for deporting North Korean refugees, now deports Falun Gong practitioners back to China,” said Bak Jong-gyu, a local Korean Falun Gong practitioner at the press conference.
The male Chinese Falun Gong practitioner surnamed Wu was deported on July 1. He arrived in Korea in May 2002 for educational purposes and learned Falun Gong while in Korea.
Wu applied for refugee protection after his study-related visa expired because he worried that he would be persecuted for his beliefs when he returned to China. However, his application was rejected, and the MOJ deported him secretly. Currently, Wu's situation is unclear.
A Korean media worker who does not want to be identified told The Epoch Times that the deportation could be related to the recent visit of Chinese regime leader Li Changchun. Although the Korean Supreme Court acknowledges that Falun Gong has been persecuted in China, the Korean MOJ rejected many Falun Gong practitioners' refugee applications after Li's visit.
Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Zhao, who is also applying for refugee status in Seoul, told The Epoch Times, “I feel the deportation is very sudden and unbelievable. As a practitioner and a refugee applicant, I know deep down in my heart what a practitioner will be facing after deportation!
“Just a few days before the MOJ rejected the Falun Gong practitioners' refugee applications, many Chinese came to the quit the CCP Service Center and threatened the volunteers who are Falun Gong practitioners, saying, ‘The Korean government will take action soon. You will be deported back to China in a few days.’ I wonder how those Chinese knew this information,” Zhao said.
The Korean Falun Dafa Association announced that currently 11 members of parliament and 127 local council members have endorsed a motion brought up by the Association that urges the MOJ not to forcefully deport Falun Gong refugee applicants due to the severe persecution being carried out by the Chinese regime. The local council endorsed the motion.
