Korean netizens showed divided reactions regarding the news of China lifting the Hallyu Ban this year
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The Chinese government is reportedly planning to lift the ‘Hallyu Ban’ as early as this May. It has been 8 years since the ban was imposed in 2017 as retaliation for South Korea’s deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system.
A high-ranking official from the China-Asia Pacific Cooperation Center, the organization overseeing preparations for the APEC summit in China, met with a reporter on February 19th and stated, “We plan to expand cultural exchanges by sending a private cultural delegation to Korea starting next month with the goal of fully reopening cultural interactions within the first half of this year”, emphasizing that the two countries need to strengthen bilateral cooperation. This means the Chinese government has the intention to lift the ban, which has restricted the distribution of Korean dramas, films, games, and K-pop concerts in China.
While the Chinese government has officially denied the existence of the Hallyu Ban, it has actually blocked the distribution of Korean content in China. Korean content exports to China must have the government’s approval or screening, but many applications have been disapproved, which caused Korea to suffer losses of up to 22 trillion won in 2017.
In this regard, an official from the South Korean Embassy in China stated, “We have constantly urged the Chinese government to lift the ban, and we are seeing positive signs”, adding “Since the Hallyu Ban was never stated in any official documents, the Chinese government is likely to gradually ease restrictions, such as allowing K-pop artists to perform in China again until Korean content is fully accessible, rather than making an official announcement regarding this matter”
Original Post: Theqoo
Comments:
– I don’t believe it. They won’t lift the ban anyway
– Don’t lift the ban. There’s no need to do it
– Please organize more K-pop concerts in China. I want to travel to China
– This only helps actors raise their appearance fees. I hope production companies are paid more
– No, don’t do it. Let’s just live separately
– Finally, there will be less Chinese people coming to concerts in Korea
– Don’t lift itㅋㅋㅋ I don’t want them (Chinese people) to come here and we don’t want to go there (China) either
– Why suddenly?
– Ahh I hate this
– No, just keep the ban. Without China, production companies will invest more in content from other countries. If China’s money comes in, dramas and films may get ruined. Just stay like this, please
– But wouldn’t that mean fewer Chinese fans come to Korea if Korean idols can perform in China? That’s also a good thing for Korean fans.
– They have been saying the same thing every year. Saying they would lift it, but once things don’t go their way, they will tighten the restrictions againㅋㅋㅋㅋ Only we end up losing everything