As a Korean citizen I feel ashamed

Korean Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference in the Gwacheon government building in Seoul. (Web photo)

During industry training in South Korea, Chinese citizen Wu Jilong, was told about the truth and beauty of Falun Gong by a fortuitous chance. Knowing that Falun Gong is facing unprecedented persecution in China, he nevertheless became a Falun Gong practitioner. When his visa expired, he applied for refugee status and waited in a Korean refugee protection center for over 2 years.

According to Dajiyuan, an anonymous journalist disclosed that during a visit to South Korea Chinese official Li Changchun pressured the Korean government to repatriate any Chinese Falun Gong practitioners staying in Korea. Although the Supreme Court of Korea acknowledges that Falun Gong practitioners are being persecuted in China, after Li Changchun departed from Korea, the Ministry of Justice adopted policies that belie the country’s democratic principles. First they started rejecting any practitioners’ refugee applications, and then they announced that those refugees whose applications were rejected would be repatriated to China.

Wu Jilong was told by a person associated with his repatriation, who prefers to stay anonymous, that “the pressure of sending him back is from above” (referring to the top of the government). The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) again extended its persecution of Chinese citizens to other countries, through the use of financial benefits and/or threats to get what they want.

As Wu Jilong waited to be granted refugee status, he was repatriated. Upon finding out Wu was sent back to China, a number of Korean Falun Gong practitioners held a press conference in the Gwacheon government building in Seoul and submitted a letter to the Ministry of Justice to protest Wu’s repatriation. Chuan Hongda, President of the Korean Falun Dafa Association, said in an interview, “such an incident will lower the nation’s credibility. As a Korean citizen I feel ashamed, and we will work to prevent the Ministry of Justice from conducting similar actions in the future.”

The persecution of Falun Gong in China hastargeted millions of people. As a follower, Wu knew he would not be able to return to his home in China. That is why he stayed in Korea until his visa expired and applied for refugee status. Upon learning of his fate he said, “I know exactly what will happen to a Falun Gong practitioner after being repatriated to China. If you really understand the true nature of the CCP, you will not doubt this.”

A close friend of Wu Jilong, who also wants to stay anonymous due to fear of persecution by the communists ,observed, “a few days before the Ministry of Justice decided to reject Falun Gong practitioners’ refugee applications, some Chinese people came to a Quitting CCP Desk in Seoul (one of many places worldwide where Chinese people can renounce their allegiance to the Communist regime), boasting and warning us: ‘Soon the Korean government will take actions to repatriate all of you back to China!’ Where and how did they get this firsthand information?” asked Wu’s friend.

Many Chinese Falun Gong practitioners in Korea are currently undergoing legal proceedings regarding their refugee applications. The UN Convention against Torture clearly states: No State Party shall expel, return, or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.