Soft power at centre of China-South Korea thaw, with benefits for K-pop fans and tourism
Though a much-publicised
concert by boy band Epex – the first K-pop show in mainland China in nine years, scheduled for the end of May – has been delayed, the long-running K-pop event Dream Concert is set to be held in mainland China for the first time later this year.
The annual concert, which has been organised by the Korea Entertainment Producers Association since 1995, is scheduled to take place in September at the 40,000-seat Sanya Sports Centre in Hainan province.
As big cultural events resume and travel between the two countries becomes easier, soft power is at the centre of the rebuilding of China-South Korea relations.
Although people in both countries welcome a thaw in relations, some note that cultural appeal alone may not be enough to change how the two nations view each other.olitically.
K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines gained significant traction in mainland China despite Netflix, the platform that hosts it, being blocked. Photo: Netflix
Tensions between the two countries rose in 2016 when following South Korea's deployment of the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system (THAAD). In response, China imposed an unofficial ban on Korean cultural imports.
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