The United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), which is currently led by President Rev. Kim Jong-hyuk, issued an official notice on April 11 to member denominations, expressing concern over Shen Yun Performing Arts’ ongoing shows in South Korea and advising all citizens, including Christians, to exercise caution when considering attendance.
According to the UCCK, Shen Yun has been staging regular performances in major South Korean cities for several years, with shows scheduled for Daegu, Chuncheon, and Gwacheon in May 2025.
Although Shen Yun claims to restore and preserve traditional Chinese culture, the UCCK stated that the actual content is structured in a way that packages specific religious doctrines in artistic form. The performances repeatedly include religious symbolism such as the appearance of a winged Creator, intervention by deified figures, and scenes of apocalyptic collective salvation, which appear to metaphorically represent the teachings and worldview of Falun Gong, the group said.
“This type of performance can be seen as a typical example of ‘disguised proselytism,’ which delivers a belief system under the guise of culture and art without prior notice to the audience of its religious nature,” the UCCK said.
“In particular, the structure of revealing doctrinal messages in the latter part of the show is even more problematic as it can indirectly lead the audience to make religious judgments. Some viewers only realized the religious content after the performance,” it added.
Citing domestic and international media reports, analyses by cult research organizations, and testimonies from former members, the UCCK stated, “Shen Yun Performing Arts is not a mere artistic group but a structurally organized community formed to spread Falun Gong’s belief system. Its activities should be regarded as religious propaganda disguised in artistic form.”
According to the UCCK, the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapShin) defined Falun Gong as a cult in a 2018 General Assembly resolution, characterizing it by its deification and doctrine of absolute salvation. The denomination warned, “Falun Gong makes Li Hongzhi and his teachings the object of faith, brainwashing believers through books and music. As a result, countless families have been destroyed, and social issues such as mental illness, suicide, and family murder have arisen.”
The UCCK emphasized that “Shen Yun’s performances are not merely cultural events but propaganda activities that deliver a religious worldview disguised as art. We urge the Christian community and civil society to raise awareness and jointly respond to such disguised proselytizing attempts,” and added, “We also call on local governments to exercise careful judgment in allowing the use of public cultural facilities and planning cultural events to prevent social controversy.”
