"Thought They Were Just Tourists"...Chinese Illegal Religion Causes Nuisance and Proselytizes at Korean Tourist Site?

Chinese people suspected of being Falun Gong practitioners practicing exercises at Geoje Maemiseong. Screenshot from an online community.

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Chinese nationals wearing yellow clothing and engaging in group activities at Maemiseong, a well-known tourist attraction in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, have come under fire from netizens.

On February 9, a video and post titled "Chinese Tourists Causing Disturbance at Tourist Site" was uploaded to an online community. The video showed seven Chinese individuals dressed in coordinated yellow outfits performing a series of movements to music in a corner near the beach.

In front of them were placards bearing phrases such as "Mantra," "Falun Dafa is Good," and "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is Good." It was presumed that they were practitioners of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual practice that has been banned and persecuted by the Chinese government since 1999. Recently, the group has reportedly carried out missionary activities, including demonstrations at famous tourist destinations in Korea to showcase their presence.

The person who reported the incident commented, "I saw with my own eyes the kind of disruptive group behavior by Chinese nationals that I had only seen in news reports. As the number of Chinese people in our country increases, I worry that such disturbances will become more common and I am concerned for our children's future," adding, "Is it appropriate to engage in such conduct at a tourist site visited by tens of thousands of people every day?"

The situation was further complicated by reports that two more Falun Gong recruiters were stationed at the entrance to Maemiseong. They appeared to be playing loud Chinese songs through speakers in an attempt to proselytize to passersby.

A citizen who visited the site said, "It made me angry to see a place built with personal effort and sacrifice being turned into a venue for religious proselytizing," and called for "stronger crackdowns and management at the level of Geoje City."

[Correction]

This media outlet previously reported in the article titled <"Is This China?" Illegal Religious Group Engages in Disruptive Group Activities and Proselytizing at Korean Tourist Site?>, published on February 16, 2026, that Chinese nationals in yellow clothing were engaged in group activities at Maemiseong in Geoje, inconveniencing tourists. It was also reported that these individuals were Falun Gong recruiters engaged in missionary work.

However, following a fact-check, it has been confirmed that the individuals present were not Chinese nationals or recruiters, but rather seven Korean Falun Gong practitioners residing in Geoje. They were performing Falun Gong exercises, a mind-body practice for health improvement, during the weekend.

In addition, the sound equipment used on site was a portable device rather than a large speaker, and the exercises were conducted in a location that did not obstruct tourist traffic. According to the group, there was no intentional obstruction of passage.

Furthermore, the Korea Falun Dafa Association, a registered organization with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, clarified that while Falun Gong has been persecuted in China since 1999, in Korea, practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and strictly observe the law and public order, refraining from any conduct that might disrupt public order.

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