DAEGU, South Korea—It is the seventh year that Shen Yun has performed in South Korea. Wherever Shen Yun goes, there is a unique phenomenon, especially in Asia: Chinese Shen Yun fans go abroad from China to see Shen Yun in large numbers. In the past, they were afraid to be interviewed but now many of them openly accept interviews. Some come more than once and also bring friends and family with them.
Ms. Mu, a Chinese student admitted to a university in South Korea, is simply a big fan of Shen Yun. She saw a DVD of Shen Yun in China, so watching Shen Yun in a theater in South Korea became her unwavering dream. Last year, she watched Shen Yun for the first time and was choked with sobs when interviewed.
Tears fell as soon as the curtain rose
This year, Ms. Mu brought her classmate, Ms. Gao, to see the show performed by Shen Yun Performing Arts Touring Company on the afternoon of April 6 in Daegu, South Korea. After watching the show, the two young ladies were reluctant to leave. They lingered in the hall to discuss their feelings and to say how touched they were by Shen Yun.
Again, Ms. Mu had tears in her eyes. She said, “As soon as the curtain rose, I still could not stop my tears from falling. I can’t explain why.”
Hoping to ascend to heaven
She was so excited that she was speechless, unsure of where to begin. When asked about the meaning of Shen Yun’s song lyrics, she nodded her head enthusiastically to express that she could understand, and then she said emotionally, “Living in the world is like a dream. We still have to return to our true selves and ascend to heaven.”
She said every program shook her soul, especially the last scene, Divine Mercy. She said passionately, “I was filled with a feeling of sublime. At that moment, the effects of the stage presence was so awe inspiring when heaven fell and the earth split apart at Tiananmen [Square], and a Buddha suddenly appeared, saving the world. Then all the things that were not supposed to exist disappeared, and only some traditional things remained. All the waste and scum vanished along with all evil things.”
Her eyes glowed with light when she spoke of her understanding of the Shen Yun performance. “It is really a kind of hope—that good people have hope and a bright future,” she said.
A show that cannot be seen in China
Her classmate, Ms. Gao, majoring in the Korean language, said, “I feel quite lucky to be able to see a different show in Korea. Earlier, the host also said that people cannot see [the Shen Yun performance] in China.”
She continued, “As soon as the curtain rose, I felt really moved. I saw something different from what is normally on television; it depicts different cultures, and I feel it expresses more.” She was choked with emotion. She had no language to express the ineffable feelings in her heart.
She said that she especially liked the program Phoenix Fairies where the phoenix fairies danced between the sea of clouds, and the dresses billowed like ocean waves. “I thought that was particularly beautiful, I really like that one,” she said.
When talking about what kind of realization about life Shen Yun brought her, she paused and then slowly and thoughtfully said, “I learned what I had not known in China. Falun Gong is completely different from how it is described [in mainland China].” Ms. Mu standing by her side interjected, saying, “Yes, I often told her of the truth [about Falun Gong] and this is the first time she has seen it for herself. The only pity is that our other classmate was unable to attend with us due to an exam.”
Seeing Shen Yun was definitely a worthwhile trip, and Ms. Gao said, “I will see it again if I have the opportunity next time.”
Reporting by Li Zhen and Irene Luo
New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has three touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org.
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