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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
See - Sada Elbalad
06-04-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Limits of China-North Korea Cooperation and the Consequences for China's National Interests
Lee Jae-young According to a source familiar with North Korean affairs, a North Korean cargo ship sailing in the West Sea since late February with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off collided with a Chinese vessel on March 13, 2025. Adverse weather conditions made it difficult for the Chinese ship to detect the North Korean vessel in time. As a result, the North Korean ship sank, with reports indicating that 15 to 20 crew members lost their lives. The Chinese vessel had only minor damage. To evade international sanctions, the vessel frequently operated with its AIS turned off. Experts believe the accident took place during an illicit coal transshipment operation between North Korea and China. North Korea and China have stayed silent about the accident, likely to avoid scrutiny over their violation of international sanctions. Their illegal maritime smuggling activities, especially involving North Korean coal, put Chinese traders at greater risk of sanctions. A good example is South Korea's independent sanction in July 2024, after authorities caught a North Korean vessel, the Deokseong, transferring coal at sea to the Hong Kong-owned De Yinear Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. In the wake of these incidents, an increasing number of countries have imposed direct and indirect sanctions on Chinese businesses and traders, who also face a growing risk of being labeled as violators of international rules. In March 2017, a similar incident occurred when a North Korean cargo ship collided with a Chinese vessel off the southeastern coast of China, causing the North Korean ship to sink. At that time, all North Korean crew members were rescued with no casualties. The Chinese authorities also openly disclosed details of the accident. In the recent incident, however, the loss of life was substantial, and it is concerning that the Chinese authorities have entirely avoided addressing it. This sends a troubling signal to the international community that China is readily neglecting its obligation to uphold UN sanctions for the sake of minor economic gains, ultimately undermining its own national interests. As this case demonstrates, the exposure of illegal trade between North Korea and China will likely negatively impact their future trade and cooperation. Tensions between North Korea's military, which controls its coal exports, and China's maritime authorities over who is responsible for the accident seem inevitable. Furthermore, their negotiations to prevent similar incidents in the future are unlikely to be resolved smoothly. While North Korea wants China to overlook sanctions and increase its coal purchases, China is more likely to tighten surveillance and crack down on illegal maritime transshipments to avoid being seen as a sanctions violator. As a result of this incident, the Asia-Pacific Region's Port State Control Committee may face growing pressure to increase safety inspections on vessels from North Korea. Satellite surveillance and reconnaissance of ship activities in Chinese waters and the West Sea are also expected to increase. This, in turn, could inadvertently trigger a surge in U.S. and allied reconnaissance operations targeting China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy training and coastal military activities, ultimately heightening military tensions for China. China's internal and external environment has been deteriorating in recent months. Externally, the U.S. Trump administration has imposed two rounds of additional 20% tariff on all Chinese goods, raising the average tariff rate on Chinese imports to approximately 25%. Additionally, the U.S. has tightened export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment bound for China—equipment essential for producing advanced chips like those designed by NVIDIA. Internally, China is grappling with sluggish domestic demand, a real estate downturn, uncontrolled toxic local government debt, a sharp rise in youth unemployment, weak foreign investment inflows, and stagnation in private sector activity. As a result, achieving its 5% economic growth target this year appears increasingly difficult. Given these challenges, if China continues to engage in illegal trade and support with North Korea despite sanctions, it risks being designated by the U.S. as an obstructionist force hindering North Korea's denuclearization. This would justify further sanctions and heightened military pressure from the U.S. and its allies. If China, like Russia—which has recently strengthened its ties with North Korea—makes public statements that imply recognition of North Korea's nuclear status or openly signals potential military support and cooperation, as seen in the North Korea-Russia treaty signed last year, the U.S. and its allies are likely to further intensity their efforts to contain and pressure China. Moreover, if China blatantly ignores sanctions and engages in smuggling or military cooperation with North Korea, as Russia has done, it risks not only facing complete isolation on the international stage—much like Russia's expulsion from the G8—but also being subjected to even harsher economic retaliation. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has an obligation to condemn and prevent North Korea's troop deployment to the Russia-Ukraine war and Russia's potential transfer of advanced weaponry to North Korea—both of which raise serious legal and security concerns. Furthermore, as North Korea and Russia grow closer, China's influence over Pyongyang is weakening. To avoid a scenario in which Moscow assumes the role of mediator in a potential U.S.-North Korea summit under the Trump administration—leaving China sidelined—it is in Beijing's best interest to take active steps to curb growing North Korea-Russia cooperation. read more Analysis- Turkey Has 0 Regional Allies... Why? Analysis: Russia, Turkey... Libya in Return For Syria? Analysis: Who Will Gain Trump's Peace Plan Fruits? Analysis: Will Turkey's Erdogan Resort to Snap Election? Analysis: What Are Turkey's Aspirations in Iraq? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Mercenaries In Libya... Who Should Be Blamed? Opinion & Analysis Analysis- How 'Libya Nightmare' Takes Erdogan to Algiers Opinion & Analysis Analysis: What Happens After Brexit? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Strategic Significance of Libya's Sirte, Jufra! 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