THAAD backlash may affect K-culture in China
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A man takes a picture in front of a poster of KBS’s TV drama “Descendents of the Sun.” / Courtesy of Twitter
By Hong Dam-young
There are fears the decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea may restrict Korean entertainment promotion in China.
South Korea and the United States recently agreed on the deployment, which China opposes.
Kim Jae-hong, vice-chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, recently visited China to promote the exchange of programs between Korea and China.
During the visit, he was under the impression Korea may face difficulty in exporting its culture to China in light of the THAAD decision, he told a press conference.
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Korean actors from a Korean TV drama decorate a bus station in China. / Courtesy of Twitter
“It doesn’t seem like the Chinese government will put an outright ban on the cultural exchange with Korea as a response to the THAAD deployment,” Kim said. “But I could feel that Chinese local governments and private enterprises are conscious of the situation. Exporting Korean culture to China might bump into a big reef.”
Kim was supposed to meet a correspondent of a broadcasting unit in China’s Jiangsu Province on July 28, but the Chinese side called off the meeting. They also blocked Kim’s planned visit to Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, where he was to have talks over coproduction and cooperation between Korean and Chinese broadcasters.
Korean stars from SBS's variety show "Running Man" / Courtesy of Twitter
The THAAD decision also appears to be affecting the business sector.
“Chinese businessmen are also reluctant to initiate economic exchange business with Korea,” Kim said. “As for now, it won’t be possible to start a new business, such as investment in China. A lot of Korean businessmen in China are worried over the impact their projects might face.”
Kim toured China’s main cities, including Beijing, Wenchow in Zhejiang Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, from July 25 to 29 to promote program cooperation.