GOYANG, South Korea—After immense pressure from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on various theaters to not allow Shen Yun Performing Arts to perform in South Korea, the New York company still managed to put on six performances in Goyang, with all tickets sold out.

“If a typical performance satisfies the flesh, then Shen Yun’s performance penetrates deep into the soul, provoking deep thought,” said Park Jae-han, vice chairman of the Central Religious Special Committee of the South Korean Democratic Party.

“After the show, I felt hopeful. I’ve seen many performances of various types that satisfy our senses, but today’s show was very touching, moving, and hopeful,” said Mr. Park.

“I particularly liked the first dance where we all witnessed the scene of [the Creator] descending from the heavens,” he said.

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“This made me reflect on where people come from. For us ordinary Koreans, when someone passes away, we say they have passed away. This performance has given me a chance to rethink the meaning of death,” he said.

“The scene that left a particularly deep impression on me was the portrayal of Falun Gong practitioners facing severe persecution in China yet never giving up their faith,” he said.

The persecution of Falun Gong is sometimes described as the greatest crime against human rights of the 21st century. However, the CCP has also cracked down on other groups, and Mr. Park was well aware of that.

“I am aware of the many persecutions happening in China and the significant human rights abuses there. Keep it up! There are people cheering for you on the sidelines. If there’s anything we can do to help, even a little, we will do our best,” he said.

Another audience member who feels deeply about Shen Yun’s portrayal of the persecution of Falun Gong is renowned South Korean director, Jung Sung-san.

Mr. Jung has seen Shen Yun three times, and every season’s dance story portraying the persecution has had him close to tears.

“Every time I see the segment about the persecution of Falun Gong in the program, tears come to my eyes. I marvel that despite such brutal persecution, they still use such beautiful art to tell the world about the persecution,” said Mr. Jung.

Mr. Jung defected from North Korea in 1995.

“Every time I see the atrocities committed by the CCP, I think of the human rights issues in North Korea. ... I greatly admire Shen Yun’s ability, and I also want to create such art,” he said.

In order to have a better understanding of the persecution of Falun Gong, Mr. Jung did some research to seek the truth behind the crime.

“Before coming to see Shen Yun, one must first understand Falun Gong. Because if you know why Falun Gong is persecuted in China, you will gain more from the work,” he explained.

His research told him that “The CCP feared that Falun Gong would become a huge religious force opposing it, so it spared no effort in persecuting and suppressing it.”

But Falun Gong is a peaceful practice that greatly benefits the mind and body. Mr. Jung has read Falun Gong’s main teaching, “Zhuan Falun.”

“Falun Gong’s ‘Zhuan Falun,” teaches practitioners to cultivate their hearts, find their true selves, and improve themselves,” said Mr. Jung.

“I want to compliment the artists of Shen Yun. How much hard training does it take to achieve such artistic heights? I think they are too precious. Seeing them, my eyes turn red,” he said.