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NBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
K-pop has been banned in China for almost a decade. Until now, maybe.
HONG KONG — The concert was set to be small but significant: the first by an all-Korean K-pop band in mainland China after an unofficial ban on such shows for almost a decade. That was exciting news for fans like Haerin Ouyang, a university student in the coastal Chinese city of Fuzhou, where the South Korean boy band Epex had been scheduled to perform on Saturday. But the show was canceled earlier this month, less than two weeks after it was announced, leaving Ouyang 'heartbroken.' 'The venue is only a 10-minute ride from my school, and it would have been fun to go with friends,' she said. C9 Entertainment, which manages Epex, cited 'local circumstances' in announcing the cancellation on May 9, dashing hopes that China was opening its doors to K-pop shows for the first time since 2016. The ban, which China has never officially acknowledged, began after South Korea announced the deployment of an American anti-ballistic missile defense system that China said was aimed at constraining its power in the region. Before the ban, China — the second-biggest music market in Asia after Japan — was one of the fastest-growing markets for K-pop and other South Korean pop culture, whose rapid rise in global popularity is known as the Korean Wave, or hallyu. 'In the K-content and K-pop markets as well, China's consumer power is regarded as top-tier,' said Kang Soyoung, a professor at Seoul Digital University. The China ban is estimated to have cost the South Korean economy almost $16 billion since 2016, she said. But the Epex concert's cancellation does not necessarily reflect the official position of the Chinese government, Kang cautioned, as China has been gradually reopening to South Korean culture after years of tension. While K-pop acts have been blocked, other South Korean bands have been allowed to play. In April, the South Korean hip-hop trio Homies became the first all-Korean act to perform in mainland China in eight years. A South Korea-based Korean American musician in a one-man indie rock band performed in the Chinese cities of Xi'an, Wuhan and Zhengzhou in late 2024 and early 2025. A large-scale K-pop joint concert is also scheduled to be held in September at a 40,000-seat stadium in the Chinese island province of Hainan. The Korea Entertainment Producers' Association, which announced the event in April, did not reply to an email asking whether that concert is still going ahead. Kang said she believed the hallyu ban would soon be lifted and the Hainan concert would 'proceed without issue.' There are also signs of growing business ties. Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company that manages the global K-pop sensation BTS, recently opened an office in Beijing, according to South Korean media. On Friday, China's Tencent Music was set to become the second-largest shareholder in the other major K-pop label, SM Entertainment, after Hybe said in a regulatory filing that it would sell Tencent its entire stake. 'It shows that there is a greater opportunity for collaboration between the two countries, especially in the entertainment industry,' said Ellen Kim, director of academic affairs at the Korea Economic Institute of America. 'It might be a starting point for industry-level cooperation that could open more doors between the two countries.' The diplomatic thaw extends beyond culture. In November, China said it would grant visa exemptions for South Korean visitors, and South Korea has said it will do the same for visitors from China. China's growing friendliness toward South Korea might be partly motivated by the unstable situation on the international stage, Kim said. Both countries face increasingly hostile and unpredictable U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump. In addition, China is struggling with weak domestic consumption that would be aided by K-pop's high-spending fans. China has also been strengthening its own entertainment industry and has more confidence in it, Kang said, pointing to the record-breaking success this year of the Chinese film 'Ne Zha 2,' the world's highest-grossing animated film ever. 'It now has robust resilience against the 'invasion' of foreign content,' she said. China's potential thaw toward South Korean entertainment comes as it further restricts the number of Hollywood films allowed to be screened in its theaters in response to Trump's tariffs. China-South Korea ties could also get a boost from next week's South Korean presidential election. The front-runner, Lee Jae-myung, is considered friendlier to China than his predecessor. 'If he wins, it might be a matter of time that things will change, which will allow the Korean entertainers to come into the country and play their music,' Kim said.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
EPEX Holding 1st K-Pop Concert In China In A Decade Excites Markets
GOYANG, SOUTH KOREA - April 23: EPEX during MBC Every1 variety show 'Weekly Idol' at MBC Dream ... More Center on April 23, 2024 in Goyang, South Korea. (Photo by MBCPLUS/Imazins via Getty Images) When EPEX takes the concert stage on May 31, the boy band won't just be holding the China stop of their Youth Deficiency Asia Tour but marking a major potential thaw in cultural barriers and a possible business renaissance for K-pop on the mainland. EPEX's upcoming show at the Maaquu X CH8 Livehouse in Fuzhou will be the first full-scale concert by an all-Korean idol group in mainland China since the country imposed an unofficial K-wave ban in 2016 after South Korea accepted the deployment of the United States' Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in the country. Nearly a decade after diplomatic tensions cut Korean singers and actors' opportunities to reach China's 1.4 billion population, the concert from this rising boy band signals a brighter future for the K-pop industry. 'EPEX made continuous efforts to connect with Chinese fans in various ways since their debut,' the band's record label and management agency C9 Entertainment said in a media statement, per Soompi. C9 is home to fellow boy band CIX, the popular singer-songwriter Younha, and veteran singer-actor Lee Seokhoon of K-pop trio SG Wannabe. Its distribution partner is currently with digital Korean conglomerate Kakao's mass media wing, Kakao Entertainment. 'The group collaborated on photo shoots and interviews with Chinese magazines, and in January of this year, they held fan signing events in Shanghai and Qingdao, where they received an overwhelmingly positive response,' C9 Entertainment added. The announcement gave Korean entertainment equities a boost. After the news broke, Bloomberg reported that shares of JYP Entertainment (home to top acts like TWICE, Stray Kids and NMIXX) jumped nearly four percent while SM Entertainment (with the likes of TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, NCT and aespa) rose about two percent amid an overall market decline for the day. Other big players like HYBE (home to BTS, SEVENTEEN and NewJeans) ended up the day up 5.5 percent and YG Entertainment (BLACKPINK, TREASURE, BABYMONSTER) also closed the day in the green. Investors seem to be looking beyond a single concert. The sense that reopened doors to a market of hundreds of millions of potential fans and recent pledges between Korea, China, and Japan to deepen economic ties could be an important cultural vanguard for greater future harmony and opportunity. Some experts worry how previous attempts at exporting Korean drama in China remain stalled and that regulatory clarity is minimal. However, others note how live performances are a softer entry point and carry less political weight than television. If EPEX sell out their shows and Chinese media coverage follows, other agencies may follow suit and hope to reactivate the fan clubs that once bulk-bought albums by the thousands. EPEX's Youth Deficiency Tour kicked off in Seoul last December with stops in cities like Tokyo, Macau, and Taipei, along with the forthcoming Fuzou date. C9 has stated that additional concerts for China may be announced as part of the tour in the coming days. Since EPEX's debut in 2021, the octet consisting of Wish, Keum, Mu, A-Min, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, and Jeff have delivered the razor-sharp choreography and soaring vocals expected of top K-pop acts while speaking to honest and real-life themes they and their peers are experiencing. Debuting during the COVID-19 pandemic brought a deeper meaning to their debut single, 'Lock Down,' while the group has not shied away from mental health topics and the in-depth questions facing youth today. From their start, EPEX has won honors like the Rookie Award - Male Group at the 2021 Hanteo Music Awards and Rookie of the Year at the 2022 Seoul Music Awards, with publications like Billboard ranking their material as some of the best K-pop of the year including Youth Chapter 2 : Youth Days from April 2024. While Beijing has not announced a formal decree or comment, the concert's mere existence suggests Chinese authorities are easing cultural restrictions, even if unofficially. For EPEX and their agency C9 Entertainment, it's the payoff for grassroots efforts and universal music messages connecting directly with fans despite any barriers. Ahead of their China shows, EPEX is gearing up for the release of 'So Nice,' an upcoming collaboration with alt-pop band joan, out on May 6. Alongside EPEX, the Little Rock, Arkansas band also collaborated with J-pop star NOA and actress-singer McKenna Grace, securing the groups in the next generation of artists approaching music with a global mindset. Watch a teaser of 'So Nice' below.
South China Morning Post
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Mainland China to host first K-pop concert since ‘K-wave ban' began in 2016
Nearly a decade after an unofficial ban on K-pop performances in mainland China was imposed, Beijing appears to be easing up on South Korea's cultural phenomenon. Advertisement A South Korean boy band, Epex, is now gearing up for a concert in Fuzhou in May, raising expectations that Beijing may ease restrictions on K-pop culture on the mainland, Yonhap News reports. The timing may be a coincidence, but it adds to growing evidence that China is seeking to improve relations with regional partners as countries grapple with increasingly hostile and unpredictable trade policies in the US. In March, trade chiefs from South Korea, China and Japan met in Seoul, where they renewed calls for an open, fair flow of goods and pledged to deepen economic ties. The concert, scheduled for May 31, marks the first performance in nine years in mainland China by an all-Korean K-pop group, Yonhap said. K-pop stars with foreign nationalities have occasionally appeared on Chinese television shows, it added. Epex will be the first all-Korean K-pop group to play in China since Beijing's so-called 'K-wave ban' in 2016. Photo: C9 Entertainment Epex's management, C9 Entertainment, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment.
Japan Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
China's first K-pop concert in years signals efforts to mend ties
Nearly a decade after China imposed an unofficial ban on K-pop performances in the mainland, Beijing appears to be lowering one of the non-trade barriers that kept South Korea's cultural phenomenon out of the country. South Korean boy band Epex is now gearing for a concert in China next month, their agent C9 Entertainment said Tuesday, raising expectations that Beijing may ease restrictions on K-pop culture in the mainland. The concert, scheduled for May 31 in Fuzhou, Fujian province, marks the first performance in nine years in mainland China by a K-pop group comprised entirely of Korean nationals, says Lee Jae-young, chief executive of C9 Entertainment. K-pop stars with foreign nationalities have occasionally appeared on Chinese television shows, according to Yonhap News, which first reported the news. Lee says the Fuzhou concert venue has a capacity of about 1,000. The news fueled a rally in South Korean entertainment stocks, with K-pop stocks helping charge the small-cap Kosdaq Index higher on Tuesday. The timing may be coincidental, but it adds to growing evidence that China is seeking to improve relations with regional partners as countries grapple with increasingly hostile and unpredictable trade policies under U.S. President Donald Trump. Last month, the trade chiefs of South Korea, China and Japan met in Seoul, where they renewed calls for an open, fair flow of goods and pledged to deepen economic ties. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism didn't immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. China imposed the so-called "K-wave ban' in 2016 in retaliation for Seoul allowing the U.S. military to deploy missile defense system called Thaad, or Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense. Before the restrictions, China was among the fast growing markets for K-pop. Beijing reacted by blocking Chinese tour groups from visiting South Korea, while sales of Korean products such as cars and cosmetics also dropped. Lotte Group pulled back by selling its supermarket business and exiting a theme park project under development. Companies such as Samsung Electronics have shifted production from China to Vietnam and other countries. The latest move raised doubts among curious Chinese fans, and some took to social media asking, "Has the Korea ban been lifted?' Epex's plans come as some Korean movie and pop stars have cautiously resumed their activities on mainland China. Some attended a Ralph Lauren fashion show in Shanghai, holding fan meet-ups in major cities that have been shunned since China's ban. Korean producers have also begun talks over content exports, while there have been no official approvals on Korean dramas yet by the Chinese government. Ji In-hae, an analyst at Shinhan Securities, said in a recent note that if China allows K-pop singers to perform at large concert halls and permit local broadcasters to air new Korean dramas simultaneously, it would be a "real, substantial' signal of relaxed restrictions. Bucking the global stock rout, entertainment stocks have been among the biggest gainers in the Korean equity market this year, driven by expectations they will be shielded from tariff wars. SM Entertainment shares have rallied more than 60% so far this year while YG Entertainment Inc. jumped more than 40%.
Business Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
China's first K-pop concert in years signal efforts to mend ties
[SEOUL] Nearly a decade after China imposed an unofficial ban on K-pop performances in the mainland, Beijing appears to be lowering one of the non-trade barriers that kept South Korea's cultural phenomenon out of the country. South Korean boy band Epex is now gearing for a concert in China next month, their agent C9 Entertainment said on Tuesday (Apr 29), raising expectations that Beijing may ease restrictions on K-pop culture in the mainland. The concert, scheduled for May 31 in Fuzhou, marks the first performance in nine years in mainland China by a K-pop group comprised entirely of Korean nationals, Lee Jae-young, chief executive of C9 Entertainment told Bloomberg News. K-pop stars with foreign nationalities have occasionally appeared on Chinese television shows, according to Yonhap News, which first reported the news. Lee said that the Fuzhou concert venue has a capacity of about 1,000. The news fuelled a rally in South Korean entertainment stocks, with K-pop stocks helping charge the small-cap Kosdaq Index higher. The timing may be coincidental, but it adds to growing evidence that China is seeking to improve relations with regional partners as countries grapple with increasingly hostile and unpredictable trade policies under US President Donald Trump. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Last month, trade chiefs of South Korea, China and Japan met in Seoul, where they renewed calls for an open, fair flow of goods and pledged to deepen economic ties. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. China imposed the so-called 'K-wave ban' in 2016 in retaliation for Seoul allowing the US military to deploy missile defence system called Thaad, or Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense. Before the restrictions, China was among the fast-growing markets for K-pop. Beijing reacted by blocking Chinese tour groups from visiting South Korea, while sales of Korean products such as cars and cosmetics also dropped. Lotte Group pulled back by selling its supermarket business and exiting a theme park project under development. Companies such as Samsung Electronics have shifted production from China to Vietnam and other countries. The latest move raised doubts among curious Chinese fans, and some took to the social media asking: 'Has the Korea ban been lifted?' Epex's plans come as some Korean movie and K-pop stars have cautiously resumed their activities in mainland China. Some attended a Ralph Lauren fashion show in Shanghai, holding fan meet-ups in major cities that have been shunned since China's ban. Korean producers have also begun talks over content exports, while there have been no official approvals on the Korean dramas yet by the Chinese government. Ji In-hae, an analyst at Shinhan Securities, said in a recent note that if China allows K-pop singers to perform at large concert halls and permit local broadcasters to air new Korean dramas simultaneously, it would be a 'real, substantial' signal of relaxed restrictions. BLOOMBERG
