The Chinese communist regime has interrupted preparations by the Korean Branch of New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV) for their cultural gala scheduled for January 6th by requesting last-minute paperwork that the television station believes to be unnecessary.
Time remaining until the gala is short, and diversion of resources to the extra paperwork has put a strain on last-minute publicity and onstage preparation.
Mr. Yongmin Jo, chief of planning and coordination of NTDTV Korea Branch, says that a theater official has only within the last few days stipulated that Taiwanese art performers must be deliberated by the Korea Media Rating Board, even though the performance contract was made several months ago. The requested deliberation by the Media Rating Board cannot normally be done in the time available.
The National Theater of Korea is doing its best to withdraw from the contract and prevent the show from taking place. Circumstantial evidence indicates that the Chinese embassy is putting pressure on both the National Theater of Korea and Korean gala performers. For example, one theater official says that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism told them to interrupt the show. He also says that China is threatening to cancel the theater's future performances in China.
This is not the first time such last-minute requirements and changes have occurred. In February of 2006 NTDTV Korea's last cultural gala was scheduled to be held in KBS, a national Korean broadcasting company. But Mr. Jo says that then, "KBS was pressured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Korea to cancel the show." Ten days before the show, when most of the tickets had been sold out, NTDTV Korea had to change locations.
Mr. Jo says that the Chinese regime interrupts NTDTV's activities because it is the only Chinese broadcasting company that can be seen in China while uncontrolled by the regime, and because the company has reported on sensitive China-related issues such as SARS, AIDS, human rights, Falun Gong, and the democratic movement among Chinese.
He reiterates that NTDTV strives to fairly and truthfully report on China and to restore culture through the revival of China's traditional culture, which the Chinese Communist Party attempted to suppress in the Cultural Revolution several decades ago.
Through the NTDTV Spectacular show that is now facing difficulties, NTDTV Korea wishes to follow a popular Korean cultural trend through East Asia and present the beauty of Korea's traditional dances. This is because although NTDTV specializes in China and Chinese culture, it believes that traditional culture of each ethnicity, not only Chinese culture, is valuable in helping humanity to realize the unstained and unique identity it carries.
NTDTV believes its efforts are welcomed and supported by most Chinese around the world.
Feeds