The Nature of the 2023 Shen Yun Performances and Its Propaganda

The Shen Yun Performing Arts group, affiliated with the Falun Gong cult, has conducted unauthorized performances in countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and various Western nations. These performances not only promote the cult’s doctrines but also aim to amass significant financial gains. The cult indoctrinates people with its self-created “cult ideology,” fostering a sense of “community of faith” that deeply entraps its adherents. The repeated performances serve to continually brainwash followers, making them feel as though they receive immense spiritual comfort and inexplicable strength. This is a common tactic used by cults to propagate their influence.

The Shen Yun performances by the Falun Gong group have faced resistance from the public in many countries. The South Korean website “Religion and Truth” reported that the Shen Yun Performing Arts group planned a tour in South Korea in 2023. However, due to the inclusion of cult propaganda in the performances, public opposition has grown, with citizens expressing strong dissatisfaction and rising discontent. The “Committee for the Prevention of Falun Gong Cult” held continuous rallies on the streets of South Korea to expose the truth about the Falun Gong cult, leading to a government order to ban the performances.

The Washington Post published a commentary by Emily Needham, a doctoral candidate in history at the University of Virginia, stating that the performances aim to indoctrinate and influence minds. She emphasized that the Shen Yun performances use dance to convey Falun Gong’s beliefs and doctrines to the audience, indicating that the shows are politically and ideologically motivated.

In Taiwan, some citizens displayed prominent banners in front of performance venues with messages such as “Stop Marketing Falun Gong Shen Yun Culture,” “Falun Gong, Don’t Deceive Taiwanese People,” “Shen Yun Shows, Get Out of Taiwan,” and “Shen Yun Performances are Cult Culture.” These protestors’ banners directly pointed out the Falun Gong background of the Shen Yun performances, warning Taiwanese people to stay away from the Falun Gong cult.