The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Thu, May 19, 2022 | 17:56
K-pop
K-pop artists' China virus gig invite no ban lift: experts
Posted : 2020-04-02 16:42
Updated : 2020-04-02 17:06
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
China plans to invite K-pop singers to perform in the online concert 'We are the World 2020.' Yonhap
China plans to invite K-pop singers to perform in the online concert "We are the World 2020." Yonhap

By Dong Sun-hwa

Is China lifting its unofficial ban on K-pop?

The expectation is high after K-pop singers are to be invited to appear in its online concert "We are the World 2020," scheduled for April 30. It is touted as the Chinese version of the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert for famine-stricken Africa, with the goal of helping victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The organizer is FREEGOS & KVLY ― a joint venture recently established by Korean media commerce platform KVLY and FREEGOS Entertainment, China's largest performance agency.

It was revealed last week that the state-affiliated China Benevolent General Association will send official invitations to Korean music labels. The concert does not have an audience but will be live-streamed on YouTube and Chinese online platforms. It would be the first time that China has opened up all its online platforms for Korean content since constraints began in 2016.

It is a good sign but some experts warn that it is too early to assume China is reversing its K-pop ban.

"It seems premature to judge whether the concert is a positive indication of the alleviation," Lim Dae-geun, a professor of Chinese Cinema Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), told The Korea Times. "Korea keeps talking about the lifting, but China is unlikely to make a public announcement concerning the removal, because it has never officially admitted to the constraint."

Beijing is widely regarded to have started blocking K-pop after Seoul allowed the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system ― the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) ― on Korean soil. China unsuccessfully pressured Korea against the deployment.

Korean films, dramas and performances have been practically prohibited in China. In the case of K-pop, even phenomenal boy band BTS could not perform there last year during its globe-trotting tour of 23 cities.

"The event is more likely a 'compensation' from Beijing to appreciate Seoul for not banning the entry of its people when the coronavirus hit the apex in China," Lim said, comparing it to Korea's gift of millions of face masks to China, whose city Wuhan is the epicenter of COVID-19.

"The organizer might have to work closely with the Chinese government to gear up for the concert," Lim said.

China plans to invite K-pop singers to perform in the online concert 'We are the World 2020.' Yonhap
"Cultural exchange can be an effective and less problematic present," Roh Dong-ryeol, a professor of Media & Communications at Sungshin Women's University, said. Yonhap

Lim Jin-hee, a research professor at Wonkwang University's Korean Chinese Relations Institute, said the event does not seem to have a big meaning.

"It looks like a concert of the Chinese, by the Chinese and for the Chinese," he said. "K-pop stars can't be the protagonists of such an event. China seemingly wants to boast its power and influence as a global leader by showing the rest of the world that it is drawing people's attention to a global disaster and leading the problem-solving."

He added: "The country appears to believe it can reduce criticisms toward it, if it transforms itself into a 'fixer.'"

Another expert says the gig can be thought of as a gift from China ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's possible visit to Seoul this year.

"Cultural exchange can be an effective and less problematic present," Roh Dong-ryeol, a professor of Media & Communications at Sungshin Women's University, said in an email interview with The Korea Times. "We should see how successfully the concert ends and whether follow-up events will be organized to discuss the future of the two countries."

Nonetheless, the experts agreed that Korea could capitalize on the event to promote the subsequent cultural exchange with China.

"Korea should actively participate in an event like this first, so that it can make its own offer in the coming days," Roh said.

G-dragon of K-pop giant BIGBANG is "expected to be up on the stage," but his appearance has not been confirmed. The K-pop stars who will appear are slated to perform in Seoul, while the Chinese singers will stage their gigs in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province. Artists hailing from Europe and other countries are likely to film their performances in Macau.


Emailsunhwadong@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]
  • Kim says Chinese permanent residents should be stripped of right to vote in Korea
  • Anti-LGBTQ sentiment widespread in Korea: survey
  • South Korea to join US-led Indo-Pacific economic initiative
  • Protecting Korea's semiconductor leadership
  • CJ, Ottogi uneasy about Harim's tactics to sell new cooked rice
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon's efforts to bolster Korea-US alliance will inevitably disturb China
  • North Korea asks China, Russia for help amid COVID crisis: reports
  • Luna debacle casts ripple effect over Korean stocks
  • Fear of deadliest famine in 1990s haunts North Korea amid national lockdown
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up' PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up'
  • Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years
  • Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year
  • 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group