SEOUL—Monday afternoon several dozen South Korean citizens gathered outside the office of Korean KBS Television to hold a press conference protesting the cancellation of New York-based Divine Performing Arts' Chinese Spectacular because of pressure from China's communist regime.
The pressure KBS Television received from the Chinese regime comes on the heels of similar tactics used by communist officials in Denmark, Sweden, and the United States due to certain programs in Chinese Spectacular depicting the persecution against Falun Gong practitioners which has been carried out by the regime since 1999.
The conference called out KBS to make a decision on the matter that would be favorable to South Korea's international image.
The Spectacular is scheduled to hold three shows in Pusan on February 26 and 27 at KBS Television's Pusan Hall. Over 6000 tickets have been sold for the event with certain performances being sold out.
KBS signed a contract with Divine Performing Arts' Korean outlet, Soh Nata Yesul Gihoek Arts Company, on October 2, 2007. However, on December 17, 2007 KBS suddenly canceled the contract due to pressure from the Chinese Embassy.
As of 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, the hosts of the Chinese Spectacular , which consist of the South Korean Falun Dafa Association, Soh Nata Yesul Gihoek Arts Company, and South Korean Epoch Times, were in a meeting with KBS management to plea with their conscience to have the show begin this evening.
As a result of the meeting, KBS is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the issue.
Many feel that the show, which is scheduled to begin in a few hours time, will become a test for the new Lee Myungbak government.
Feeds