Korea: Released from Chinese Forced Labour Camp, Ms. Ko Sung-nyo is Welcomed Home at a Party Held in Korean Parliament

In order to welcome Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Ko Sung-nyo (Chinese pinyin: Gao Chengnu) who was recently released from a Chinese forced labour camp and to express gratitude toward Korean Parliament members who had supported and helped rescue Ms. Ko to Korea, the "Ko Sung-nyo Rescue Committee" sponsored a "welcoming party" for Ms. Ko on July 28th, 2005 in the Korean Parliament's Honoured Guests' Cafeteria.

"Ko Sung-nyo Rescue Committee" in front of the Korean Parliament

On that day, both Ms. Ko Sung-nyo and her husband, Mr. Kwack Byung-ho, were very happy. They talked about their life in Korea and expressed their gratitude towards all the people who had helped them.

Ms. Ko Sung-nyo and her husband Mr. Kwack Byung-ho

A representative of the 24 Parliament members who participated in the rescue of Ms. Ko Sung-nyo, MP Li Yuanrong said in his speech, "In more than 80 countries of the world, including Korea, Falun Gong's peaceful cultivation environment is protected. However, only in China is Falun Gong banned." "In order to force Ms. Ko Sung-nyo to give up her practise of Falun Gong, the Jiamusi Forced Labour Camp employed various kinds of methods to persecute her. During that period of time, Ms. Ko's health was in critical condition. However, she resolutely practised her cultivation with unyielding courage. We highly recognise her lofty spirit and courage to obtain her freedom to cultivate through nonviolent means." MP Li continued, "Starting from one's resolute faith and firmly denying the authorities' unjustifiable interference with one's freedom of cultivation practice once again shows the victory of the noble human nature."

MP Li Yuanrong, representative of the 24 MPs participating in the rescue of Ms. Ko Sung-nyo, addresses the party

Since Ms. Ko Sung-nyo was arrested and imprisoned in the Jiamusi Forced Labour Camp for her practise of Falun Gong in May, 2004, various kinds of activities to rescue Ms. Ko have unfolded in Korea and numerous people have participated in the rescue effort.

In Korea, more than 240,000 people signed a petition requesting the release of Ms. Ko Sung-nyo. Seventy-three assembly committees at municipal and provincial levels and some social groups passed resolutions to urge the Chinese authorities to set Ms. Ko free. In particular, 24 elected Korean Parliament Members formed the "MP Rescue Committee to Urge the Release of Korean Citizen's Wife". The MPs visited the Chinese Embassy in Korea to deliver a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao to demand the release of Ms. Ko Sung-nyo.

Welcoming Party to receive Ms. Ko Sung-nyo to Korea

With the progress of the nationwide rescue campaign, on May 13th this year, Ms. Ko Sung-nyo was finally released from the Jiamusi Forced Labour Camp. Although she was set free, she was unable to obtain a visa to Korea and the couple was unable to live together.

In order to help Ms. Ko Sung-nyo come to Korea as early as possible, the "Ko Sung-nyo Rescue Committee" discussed the situation with the Korean Consulate-general in Shenyang, China and the office in charge of entering or leaving Korean territory. After learning the truth, these institutes, which originally refused to issue the visa in advance, finally provided positive assistance. On July 8th, two months after her release, Ms. Ko obtained her visa and arrived in Korea on July 20th.