The Little Angels of Korea

The Little Angels

True Parents founded the Little Angels of Korea on May 5, 1962. As a children's traditional Korean performing arts troupe, the Little Angels took the lead in the effort to share the beautiful artistic culture of Korea and the peace-loving spirit of its people with the world.

They performed on a 60-nation tour beginning with a special performance for former US President Eisenhower at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in September 1965. Establishing their role as peace envoys, they have performed internationally and in Korea on some 6,000 occasions, have made more than 500 television appearances, and met with 40 heads of state.

Their numerous special shows and tours include performances in Moscow on April 7-17, 1990, and in Pyongyang on May 4-7, 1998. They conducted an international tour of performances to express gratitude to the 22 countries that took part in the Korean War.

This tour, which ran from June 2010 through November 2011, was conducted in cooperation with veterans of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces and the Korean War Memorial Federation.

1. I received much opposition while creating a children's dance company. While other people ate boiled rice, we ate coarse barley rice, pinching pennies to share our money with the poor.

But even as I heard all the criticism, because I loved the Republic of Korea, and had the desire to introduce our country to America, I founded a children's dance company. (037-240, 1970/12/27)

2. I have become an enigmatic person in Korea. Many people spend lots of money in a struggle to move the people of the world. However, I am moving thousands without a fight. In a single day, without a single penny, I accomplish work that even millionaires cannot do.

If I want to do something, I can do it. I am doing great work. Nobody even knew about the work it took to prepare the dance company. To enable them to reach their present level, I told them, “Practice for three years. Practice day and night.” After just one and a half years, I told them, “Good. If you perform as well as this, you will touch the heart of the world.”

And I was confident. Their compatriots back in Korea were still unaware of them. A religious organization and a performing arts group are two different things. Why does the Unification Church, which is excellent at solving social ills, also have a performing arts group? It is because they have different purposes.
(015-143, 1965/10/03)

3. Advanced countries, which will build cultural spheres in the second half of the 20th century, have entered a realm in which they should be able to consider the issues raised in Unification Thought.

Therefore, to welcome the day when the culture of Korea stands proudly before all humankind, I founded the Sunhwa Children's Dance Troupe, later renamed the Little Angels. It required a substantial outlay of funds for the Little Angels to come into being.

Not a single person understood or supported this effort, but ultimately, I understood what was right. No matter how much we had to struggle to bring this about, I knew absolutely that we could push forward and, if God had the basis to help, that we would not perish.

Even entertainers and groups that have trained for decades to perform often wither and are ruined by criticism upon entering America's world of entertainment. Nonetheless, we gathered our Little Angels dance company, and with only three years of preparation, we went to America, believing in the power of God. Beginning with our first performance, we received giant applause. This was truly a historic miracle. (022-094, 1969/01/26)

4. Before the children performed we gathered them and prayed together in tears asking, “Heavenly Father, please do not view these children who are going to perform merely as children.

These are Your emissaries who are honoring Your Will as heavenly people, so please allow them to win over the culture of America.” Because we were longing for Heaven like this, the children took on this solemn mission and performed for the sake of God's Will.

The children would tell us that, strangely, when they prayed this way and then went onstage, they danced well and did not make mistakes. There are performing arts groups in the world that are bigger than ours, but there are none of better quality. (022-094, 1969/01/26)

5. What distinguishes the Little Angels is that they pray before they go onstage to dance and sing. For that reason, even as they dance their thoughts are different. Since this happens behind the scenes, and because their performances reflect it, the audience is enraptured without even knowing why. Surprised by the children's dancing skills, the audience, deeply moved, naturally applauds. There is nothing to criticize.

The internal preparations behind the scenes are reflected in the invisible rays of energy that radiate during the performances and capture people's hearts. Nonetheless, this quality is not something they acquired instantly.

It required many years of sincere devotion behind the scenes. Ordinary people do not have that attractive quality. Only those with that level of devotion can become like that. (100-104, 1978/10/08)

6. This year, 1969, the Little Angels of Korea are receiving an appropriate reception in Japan. At first, the president of our Japanese church approached me and suggested we keep the Little Angels' performances to a minimum in Japan.

He feared the Japanese people would not be interested in having a Korean children's dance company visit and perform. He was still planning to hold the performances because I had requested them, but he tried to reduce the number of performances to as few as possible.

Furthermore, he was planning to proceed with the performances in a few places, and then tell me of the difficulties he was facing and receive my permission to cancel the rest of the scheduled performances.

Knowing what thoughts were in his mind and heart, I told him, “Even in a wrestling match, you never know if you are going to win or lose unless you get into the ring and fight.” (022-058, 1969/01/19)

7. When Mindan, which is the leading association of Korean residents living in Japan, invited Korean dance companies to perform, the performances were usually free of charge.

At those free performances, instead of adults, unruly youth would attend, act rudely, and leave without a word of greeting. Because of this, Korean dance companies invited by Mindan to perform in Japan have only suffered disgrace.

Therefore, the Mindan people thought that the Little Angels would have to leave Japan in shame without much success. But, to their surprise, it was the Japanese people this time who actively engaged in organizing the event.

In January 1969, our performances in Japan attracted people from government and business; we were allowed to display our dignity in Japan. The Japanese government and the Koreans residing in Japan came to realize many things about the Little Angels. Our special performances received the support of Japanese celebrities, and we gained great success in Japan. (022-062, 1969/01/19)

8. The performances by the Little Angels dance troupe in Japan were a risky venture. I was the one who formed the organization and gave detailed instructions. I was pressing ahead to hold a nationwide assembly within two months.

Furthermore, I told them, “If you act according to my plan, crowds of people will come to the Unification Church and we will achieve nationwide success. This is my strategy.”

But, the Japanese leaders could not believe my words, so I told them, “You have to believe me.

If we perish, I too will perish, and if we die, I too will die.” Thus, they were persuaded. Whatever you do by your own subjective choices will fail, but if you act according to what I tell you, you will succeed. (028-228, 1970/01/11)

9. We rented the Nichigeki Theater in Tokyo for a 40-day run. This period of performances was unprecedented; it set a record. People in the Japanese entertainment sector criticized us, saying we did not know what we were doing.

In their professional opinion, it would be difficult to draw an audience for even a week, and they thought that our expectation to have audiences for 40 days and nights was completely delusional.

And yet, our effort was worthwhile. It was especially rewarding because everybody had been opposing and criticizing us. In a single moment, the situation shifted completely. In this way, we displayed our ability to turn things around.

Not only must we dispel this kind of public opinion; we must move beyond Japan and make a foundation throughout Asia. (062-275, 1972/09/26)

10. Through the Little Angels, the Unification Church quietly provided the Republic of Korea with global publicity. Even now, it is the same. Recently, we hired the largest theater in the Ginza district in Tokyo, holding public performances for 40 days and nights.

We are doing this for the sake of Korea, not for the Unification Church. These days Mindan, the pro-South Korean residents in Japan, are getting involved with Chongryon, the pro-North Korean residents' association that propagates Kim Il-sung's Juche ideology.

At such a time Korea is being recognized for its traditional culture. I was told that even the Japanese are impressed and feel great admiration for ancient culture, so Korea's dignity has been elevated.

This is the nature of the work we are doing and for this reason, God has granted us protection. Even when the road was so perilous that it seemed our efforts would surely fail, we have gained success because we are not doing it for ourselves. Our cultural work prospers because we sacrifice for the sake of goodness.
(065-076, 1972/11/13)

11. I came to America in 1971, but I had already prepared the foundation before I came. Thus, when I arrived, my presence immediately became an issue for the CIA and the FBI. This was because of the extensive range of my activities. When did I prepare that foundation?

My preparation began when I founded the Little Angels to hold performances overseas. When we founded the Korean Cultural and Freedom Foundation to sponsor the Little Angels, I selected individuals who had ties to the American government to serve as board members.

Over 140 personalities of national-level influence, including former US presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, joined the foundation at that time. Because of them, we were able to conduct many activities with the Little Angels.

For example, arranging a performance in the White House usually requires one and a half years of advanced preparation. However, the Little Angels could perform in the White House after applying just a week in advance.

This was possible because President Eisenhower was an advisor to the sponsoring foundation. I prepared that foundation before I came to the United States.
(138-313, 1986/01/24)

12. Because the Little Angels now have become a famous performing arts company, they performed at the White House for the Nixon government. They even performed for Queen Elizabeth in Great Britain, and they are set to perform before Japanese government administrators.

Now that such things are happening, the Little Angels have reached the inner circle of the world of international entertainment, a position of public acclaim. This time they will go to Europe, and Great Britain requested that they visit for two months.

Entertainment professionals in Germany, Spain, and France are welcoming us and have requested the Little Angels, being well aware their investment will not lose money.

The Little Angels will meet with leading performers in Britain and perform for two months. However, because the children cannot perform in Britain for a period longer than 40 days, it was decided that they stay there for that length of time, and then perform for the remaining time in Spain.

Our dance company has already prepared a worldwide foundation. Our public performances connect us with an extensive network of people. (062-282, 1972/09/26)

13. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor for me to bring the Little Angels as ambassadors for peace and friendship here to the Soviet Union, representing the Republic of Korea.

Let me announce that the 40 million citizens of Korea, as well as the Little Angels, would like to convey to you and your homeland the friendship and goodwill of the Republic of Korea.

Last night we had the chance to see the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet. The Bolshoi Ballet company's elegant beauty and perfect exhibition of skill are simply marvelous. At that moment, we deeply felt that in the world of culture and arts, there are no boundaries.

Art freely goes beyond the walls of nationality, race, and doctrine. Even tonight, while watching a performance entirely different from the Bolshoi, we feel the same sensation. As those beautiful Korean children show us a world of art and present the beauty of the tradition of the East, we cannot help but feel enraptured.

This is evidence of the immense importance of the exchange of culture and the arts to advance toward the day of world peace. (201-215, 1990/04/11)

14. In May 1998, the Little Angels are going to North Korea. That is completely in accord with my plan.

In March 1998, starting with Washington DC, Universal Ballet held performances in 12 cities in Canada and the United States. However, the fact that the Little Angels are going to North Korea means they stand on the side of Heaven.

If South Korea is a plus and North Korea a minus, then Father will unify the plus and the minus. Nobody else can do that, not even national governments.

Father has found the top specialists in Eastern folk dance and Western classical ballet and thus created the best ballet company and the best Little Angels, who can represent the art of the East and the West.

When they perform with excellence in the East and the West, I envision that one united world of arts and culture will emerge. (292-262, 1998/04/26)

15. The Little Angels gave a celebratory performance in Pyongyang, for the delegations at the South-North Summit Conference. They performed after preparing for only ten days, not even two weeks.

This is like a dream. This is work that the government cannot do even with ten years of preparation. The Pyongyang Youth Student Arts Group came to South Korea from North Korea. If the Little Angels did not exist, how would that have happened?

Even in North Korea, they understand how this works, and they thanked me. Then they said that they hoped that I take the lead in bringing about North-South unification.

They sent a piece of art created using five colors of stone dust expressing “gratitude and congratulations” for the performance of the Little Angels. That picture will last for tens of thousands of years. (325-209, 2000/07/01)

The Little Angels Arts School

True Parents held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Little Angels Arts School on March 27, 1973. The school's purpose is to educate artists and provide advanced training for the members of the Little Angels dance troupe.

That year on December 1, the Little Angels Arts School received approval as an accredited institution, and on March 5, 1974, the school opened with the founding philosophy of “Love Heaven, Love People, Love Your Country.”

The first graduation ceremony was held on February 8, 1977, and on February 16 the school's name was changed to Sunhwa Arts School.

16. Communism was the principal axis of ideological worldviews, and even if the democratic world replaces communism it will follow suit to completely fall apart. Because of that, people are asking fundamental questions concerning humankind, including “What is love?” and “Where do emotions come from?” In reality, answering these questions is not difficult.

They are properly answered through culture and the arts. The world of music is the path that impacts the multitudes within the shortest time, and it can provide new stimulation for the orientation of young people.

This is the role of culture and the arts. That is why I created the Little Angels Performing Arts School in 1974. (241-196, 1992/12/26)

17. The Little Angels Performing Arts School was created so that we could cooperate and spread the arts as a component of culture that connects the ideals of the Unification Church to the world.

The educational objective of this school is simple. Its philosophy of education is to connect all humankind, by loving Heaven, loving people, and loving your country.

The school is famous across Korea and is known even throughout Japan and the rest of Asia. (135-261, 1985/12/12)

18. Studying is difficult. But by studying you should be able to consider the problems of life and the path of a son or daughter of God. As you study, you should be able to feel as if you are hearing the voices of our brothers and sisters who died without being able to know whether God exists or not.

While studying all night long, you need to work hard with a heart that calls out, “Tomorrow you will find a day of hope, so please wait for me until then.” You must study with greater enthusiasm.

If you Little Angels study with that heart, you will come to represent the world, having built a royal palace for children, young adults, the middle-aged, and finally the elderly.

This means that the time will come when children, young adults, middle-aged and elderly people, and people of all ages throughout the world, will respect those who have graduated from the Little Angels as if they were royalty.

You will create God's sons and daughters of love. There is nothing for which to be more grateful. Because what a king or queen does is love people, all people will remember you and love you as royalty. When this happens, you Little Angels will have to take responsibility for the world. (100-162, 1978/10/09)

19. We are operating on a worldwide scale, and this is true for the Little Angels Arts School.

When I said that we would send the Little Angels to America, everyone thought it was ridiculous. We trained the first team for their performance in the United States. After three months of training, we had them perform in America.

While the children were sleeping, they were being taught in their dreams. They were coached by the spirit world. We did not have an assembly hall. At first, we did not have the Little Angels School or a place where they could practice.

A little later, even though we had no money whatsoever, we built the Little Angels Performing Arts Center. (532-315, 2006/07/17)