Dear Ms. Erdely:

I wanted to express my deep regret for the article that you wrote about Dahn Yoga and Ilchi Lee in Rolling Stone. I have been an instructor for 5 years and very satisfied with my job and practice in Dahn Yoga. I have seen other articles that have taken a similar route that you have–getting one-sided information and twisting details. Had you visited a center, or talked with our instructors and members, you would have seen another side. Your depiction is only possible for someone with little or no experience in mind-body training, with little or no exposure to Asian cultures, who received questionable information from people with an agenda.

Although this news has come out, we are still receiving new members and they are satisfied and happy. This article has helped the instructors and members become stronger and we have learned that our deep trust and conviction in our own experience trumps all negative and slanderous news reporting, it is merely a small dent in our armor. You may have had a well-meaning intention to inform the general public about so-called injustices, but it may just delay them in finding better health and more meaning and purpose in their life.

Sincerely,

Susan Kim

Sedona, AZ

Ilchi Lee was jailed on charges of violating several laws: selling small amounts of herbs without a license; selling food supplements without a license; for purchasing land indirectly (under a law trying to prevent land speculation); and for operating a “school” without approval from Ministry of Education. He spent 70 days in a local jail until his sentence was suspended. These were all things that he did for the benefit of Instructors and not directed at the public. For example, Ilchi Lee created and distributed the herbal remedies and food supplements to help support the health and well-being of Instructors. He also arranged for a special program for Instructors, many of whom did not complete their formal university educations because they were serving the Company’s vision. The end of this program had a “graduation” atmosphere with cap and gowns. Photos of this program were the “evidence” the accusers used against Ilchi Lee. Lastly, the land now known as Chun Hwa Won was purchased as a place for the training of Instructors, and not meant as land for his or anyone else’s personal use.
None of these charges would be considered criminal in North America or Europe, and are no longer criminalized in Korea. Ilchi Lee was jailed because South Korea has no system of bail; if someone is arrested they can be held in custody without being formally charged. (See Korea Times article http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/06/175_13837.html)

Result: Many detractors like to say that Ilchi Lee is a “convicted criminal,” while the truth is that he served time in jail while he was accused. Currently, the Korean government has no “criminal record” on Ilchi Lee, since these charges were removed from the record because a certain amount of time has passed. Now a Dahn World affiliate has ministry approval for a university and for selling many food and herbal supplements.

But I have seen many ‘facts’ about things and situations in which I was present, and also those in which I was not. And seeing the ‘facts’ and opinions from situations when I was present has made me realize that two people can be in the very same situation and see something completely different. And that how they see it can even change over time. And then when they start sharing their own experience with other people, after a while it sounds like what they’re saying is ‘just what happened,’ when in fact it is their experience of what happened. And every experience is totally valid. But it’s made me more wary of all information. I just think I need to keep in mind the layers of information that go into anything someone communicates or writes, even myself.

And when I focus inside myself and try to stay in my center, I can still see the rest of the world. In fact, I can see more of those many layers of information. And I can be grounded in the truth that is beyond all information, the truth that has many names–chunjikiun/chunjimaum, tao, the source, God, whatever you want to call it. It’s only when I am there that I can move past the smallness of this situation and am able to love and understand.

I still think the Rolling Stone article is a very colorful conglomeration of ‘facts’ that are people’s real experiences and opinions with a very definite theme. And I am grateful for this time and experience that gives me, the Dahn Yoga organization, and other entities that teach Ilchi Lee’s methods, a chance to improve and grow.

I am writing to you as a now, former dedicated reader of Rolling Stone magazine.

In reference to the February 5th article about Dahn Yoga, I am surprised that RS would publish such a ridiculous article. It is clear that your editorial staff has no understanding about the Dahn practice; nor, does there seem to be any interest from the staff in finding out–and publishing–the many benefits that this practice holds for individuals, communities and the Planet.

Since I have first-hand experience of many things the reporter writes about, I am tempted to go item-by-item to refute the gross inaccuracies of the article. But I value my time, so I will only say that RS should have taken a cue from the experience of the Korean magazine Shin Dong Ah, which was compelled to publish a retraction of its own trashy article about the Dahn practice. What RS deserves for itself publishing such trash, would be best expressed by the vernacular. But I will leave it to our legal experts to express it, after their own manner.

Finally, as a college student, I, too, cleaned toilets–for the Roman Catholic Church. The church was located adjacent to the college campus. There is nothing special about cleaning toilets–every where there is a toilet, it needs to be cleaned. But the reporter kept mentioning about it. It shows her poor taste. It is too bad for Rolling Stone that you would allow this reporter’s ”work” to appear in your magazine. Really too bad.

John Thompson