China May Reconsider Decade-Long Ban on South Korean Entertainment Sector

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung discussed the need to expand cultural cooperation during a bilateral summit held in Gyeongju. The importance of the return of the Korean entertainment sector to the Chinese market was emphasized as a step towards rebuilding mutual trust.

The meeting raised expectations that Beijing could reconsider the unofficial restriction on South Korean cultural content that has been in place for nearly a decade. This ban was established in 2016 amid the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, which China viewed as a threat to its security.

The summit also addressed the legal and procedural hurdles that must be overcome for a complete restoration of cultural exchanges. Although Xi Jinping responded positively to Seoul's proposal to hold a K-pop concert in Beijing, the South Korean Government's Cultural Exchange Commission warned that it is still too early to speak of concrete decisions.

Experts note that if the Chinese market opens up to Korean content, it could give a new impetus to South Korea's entertainment industry, particularly benefiting major companies like Hybe, SM Entertainment, CJ ENM, and JYP Entertainment, whose business models are heavily reliant on access to international audiences.