Controversy over Falun Gong Promotional Materials at Seongsan Ilchulbong: Finding Balance Between World Natural Heritage and Freedom of Expression

Introduction:

Seongsan Ilchulbong, a symbol of Jeju Island and a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, is renowned for its majestic natural scenery and attracts countless tourists annually. However, in recent years, a different scene has been unfolding at the entrance of Seongsan Ilchulbong. Falun Gong practitioners have been displaying promotional materials and holding gatherings to raise awareness about the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party.

This activity by Falun Gong has sparked controversy, highlighting the conflict between the constitutional right to freedom of expression and the value of preserving a World Natural Heritage site. While some worry that Falun Gong's activities are damaging the image of Seongsan Ilchulbong, others argue for respecting the right of the oppressed to voice their concerns. This article will examine the background and current status of the Falun Gong promotional material controversy at Seongsan Ilchulbong, related legal issues, reactions from various stakeholders, and ultimately explore possible solutions for coexistence.

Seongsan Ilchulbong

1. Seongsan Ilchulbong and Falun Gong Activities: Background and Current Status

Seongsan Ilchulbong is a volcanic cone formed by underwater eruptions about 5,000 years ago, featuring a 182m high crater and 99 rock peaks surrounding it. It was designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2007, recognizing its value.

Falun Gong, founded by Li Hongzhi in 1992, is a spiritual practice that aims to cultivate morality based on the principles of "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" and improve health through exercises. It gained popularity in China during the 1990s but was declared an illegal organization by the Chinese Communist Party in 1999, leading to widespread persecution.

Since then, Falun Gong practitioners have been conducting activities worldwide to expose the persecution by the Chinese Communist Party. Jeju Island is no exception, with Seongsan Ilchulbong being a key location for their activities due to its popularity among Chinese tourists.

At the entrance of Seongsan Ilchulbong, Falun Gong practitioners display promotional materials including photos, illustrations, and explanations exposing the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Falun Gong. They also perform with the Tian Guo Marching Band to showcase the beauty of Falun Gong and conduct signature campaigns urging an end to the persecution. These activities are usually carried out regularly, with increased intensity during Chinese holidays and commemorative days.

2. Content of Falun Gong Promotional Materials and Controversy

The promotional materials displayed by Falun Gong practitioners at the entrance of Seongsan Ilchulbong contain various content, which often becomes the center of controversy. Let's examine the main content of these materials and the resulting controversies in detail.

Main Content of Promotional Materials

1. Introduction to Falun Gong's core values
   • Explains the core values of Falun Gong: "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance"
   • Emphasizes the positive impact of these values on individuals and society
2. Guide to Falun Gong practice
   • Introduces the five sets of Falun Gong exercises and explains their effects
   • Emphasizes the importance of meditation and mind-body cultivation
3. Sharing health improvement cases
   • Introduces cases of health improvements through Falun Gong practice
   • Emphasizes effects such as stress reduction and improvement of chronic diseases
4. Exposing the persecution by the Chinese government
   • Introduces cases of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners in China
   • Contains messages about human rights violations and calls for international attention
5. Status of international support
   • Introduces the fact that resolutions supporting Falun Gong have been passed in various countries worldwide
   • Emphasizes the peaceful nature of Falun Gong and its international recognition

Core of the Controversy

The content that causes the most controversy among Falun Gong promotional materials is the exposure of the Chinese government's persecution. This becomes the center of controversy for the following reasons:

1. Political sensitivity
   • Content directly criticizing the Chinese government can cause diplomatic friction
   • Concerns are raised about potential negative impacts on Korea-China relations
2. Discomfort for tourists
   • Political messages can cause discomfort to tourists who came to enjoy their vacation
   • It particularly provokes backlash from Chinese tourists
3. Concerns about image damage
   • There are claims that it conflicts with the peaceful image of Seongsan Ilchulbong, a World Natural Heritage site
   • Concerns are raised about potential decrease in attractiveness as a tourist destination
4. Difficulty in fact verification
   • It's difficult to immediately verify the truthfulness of the persecution cases presented in the promotional materials on-site
   • This raises questions about the reliability of the information

Falun Gong's Position

Falun Gong practitioners argue that these promotional activities are essential for the following reasons:

1. Need for human rights protection
   • They view it as the international community's responsibility to expose the human rights violations occurring in China
   • They maintain that silence is equivalent to condoning the persecution
2. Revealing the truth
   • They believe there are misunderstandings about Falun Gong due to Chinese government propaganda and aim to correct these
   • They emphasize the importance of spreading awareness about Falun Gong's peaceful nature and positive effects
3. Exercise of freedom of expression
   • They argue that promotional activities are an exercise of freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution
   • They maintain that there's no reason to restrict activities conducted in a peaceful manner

Position of the Opposition

Those opposing Falun Gong promotional materials argue:

1. Damage to tourist site image
   • They view political messages as harming the peaceful atmosphere of the tourist site
   • They argue that focus should be on the value as a World Natural Heritage site
2. Concerns about economic loss
   • They worry about the impact on the local economy due to a decrease in Chinese tourists
   • They view this as a serious problem given Jeju Island's high dependence on the tourism industry
3. Potential for conflict
   • They worry about potential conflicts between tourists with different viewpoints
   • They particularly point out the possibility of clashes between Chinese tourists and Falun Gong practitioners

As these various positions clash, Falun Gong promotional materials at Seongsan Ilchulbong continue to be a subject of controversy. This demonstrates that the issue involves a complex intertwining of various values including freedom of expression, human rights protection, tourist site management, and economic interests.

3. Concerns about Damaging the Image of Seongsan Ilchulbong as a World Natural Heritage Site

As a globally recognized natural heritage, preserving the beauty and value of Seongsan Ilchulbong is crucial. However, Falun Gong's promotional activities raise concerns about potentially damaging the image of Seongsan Ilchulbong in the following aspects:

• Visual disturbance: Promotional materials and banners may detract from the natural landscape.
• Noise pollution: Performances by the Tian Guo Marching Band or gatherings may disrupt the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
• Tourist inconvenience: Negative reactions to the content of promotional materials or inconvenience caused by gatherings may decrease tourist satisfaction.
• International image deterioration: There are concerns that political demonstrations at Seongsan Ilchulbong could tarnish Jeju Island's international image.

Some argue that Falun Gong's promotional activities could damage the natural scenery of Seongsan Ilchulbong and diminish its value as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

4. Falun Gong Activities from a Legal Perspective

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea guarantees freedom of assembly, demonstration, and expression. Therefore, Falun Gong practitioners have the right to hold assemblies and demonstrations and freely express their opinions in accordance with the law.

However, these rights are not absolute and can be restricted for reasons such as maintaining public order and protecting the rights of others. The Assembly and Demonstration Act regulates the time, place, and method of assemblies and demonstrations to maintain public peace and order.

Falun Gong activities at Seongsan Ilchulbong must comply with the Assembly and Demonstration Act, including reporting assemblies and adhering to specified locations, methods, and times. If illegal acts occur during assemblies or public peace and order are disturbed, sanctions can be imposed according to the Act.

Additionally, if the content of Falun Gong promotional materials defames others or spreads false information, it could be punishable under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection or the Criminal Act.

Therefore, while Falun Gong activities at Seongsan Ilchulbong are a constitutionally guaranteed right, they must comply with relevant laws and be careful not to infringe on the rights of others.

5. Reactions of Chinese Tourists and Local Residents

Chinese tourists' reactions to Falun Gong activities at Seongsan Ilchulbong vary:

• Indifference: Most Chinese tourists pass by Falun Gong promotional materials without showing much interest.
• Antipathy: Some Chinese express strong antipathy towards Falun Gong materials, possibly influenced by the Chinese Communist Party's anti-Falun Gong propaganda. Some tourists may damage promotional materials or verbally abuse Falun Gong practitioners.
• Curiosity: Some Chinese show curiosity about Falun Gong materials, reading the content or asking questions. This may be due to the difficulty of accessing Falun Gong-related information in China.
• Support: A very small number of Chinese express support for Falun Gong. These may be people who previously practiced Falun Gong or have grievances against the Chinese Communist Party.

Reactions from Jeju local residents are also mixed:

• Concern: Some residents worry that Falun Gong activities could damage Seongsan Ilchulbong's image and negatively impact tourist attraction. They also worry about potential escalation of conflicts with Chinese tourists.
• Understanding: Some residents argue that Falun Gong's freedom of expression should be respected and that the voices of the oppressed should not be ignored. Some view Falun Gong activities as an aspect of Jeju Island's diversity.
• Indifference: Most residents tend not to show much interest in Falun Gong activities.

6. Alternatives for Conflict Resolution: Is Coexistence Possible?

To resolve the conflict surrounding Falun Gong activities at Seongsan Ilchulbong, a balanced approach considering the positions of various stakeholders is necessary. The following specific measures are proposed:

1. Creating a dialogue platform
   • Establish regular dialogue forums involving Falun Gong representatives, local residents, tourism industry representatives, and human rights experts.
   • Conflicts can be mitigated through a process of understanding each other's positions and finding common ground.
2. Diversifying promotional methods
   • Introduce Falun Gong through various methods such as cultural performances and experience programs, in addition to direct promotional material installation.
   • This can help introduce Falun Gong to tourists without causing aversion.
3. Adjusting time and space
   • Adjust the time and location of Falun Gong activities considering tourist routes.
   • For example, consider conducting activities at a certain distance from the entrance of Seongsan Ilchulbong or allowing activities only during specific time periods.
4. Operating educational programs
   • Conduct multicultural understanding education for local residents and tourism workers.
   • Enhance understanding of Falun Gong and foster a culture of respecting diversity.
5. Considering tourism product development
   • Explore the possibility of developing Falun Gong practice experiences as a new tourism product.
   • This could transform Falun Gong activities into something beneficial for the local economy.

Through these measures, it may be possible to find a balance between preserving the value of Seongsan Ilchulbong and respecting Falun Gong's freedom of expression.

Conclusion

The controversy over Falun Gong promotional materials at Seongsan Ilchulbong holds significance beyond a simple conflict. It raises fundamental questions about how to balance freedom of expression, tourist site management, human rights protection, and economic interests.

The process of finding a solution to this issue will serve as a test of how well our society can embrace diversity and find consensus through dialogue. We hope that Seongsan Ilchulbong, a beautiful natural heritage, can become a place that also embodies the values of human rights and peace.

Continuous efforts for dialogue and mutual understanding will be necessary going forward. Through this, we hope that Seongsan Ilchulbong can establish itself as a true world heritage site that embraces not only the beauty of nature but also universal human values.