Finally making a group comeback following a hiatus due to military, BTS announced a tour that will take them around the globe. However, experts have taken note of a significant omission in BTS’s tour schedule.
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There are forecasts that it will take considerable time before China’s so-called “hallyu ban” is eased, given that BTS’s world tour schedule does not include performances in China.
A media outlet highlighted on the 1st that while BTS recently announced large-scale tours in over 30 cities worldwide, the exclusion of mainland China underscores that China’s restrictions on Korean cultural content remain in effect.
China officially denies the existence of the hallyu ban, but since South Korea’s deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) in 2016, Korean entertainers and cultural content have effectively faced limitations on entering the Chinese market. K-pop concerts have been confined to Hong Kong and Macau.
Experts remain cautious about the possibility of a full and immediate lift of the hallyu ban, despite gradual improvements in China-South Korea relations.
Wu Chang Chang, associate professor at East China Normal University’s Department of Communication, said, “Although the mutual visits by the Chinese and Korean leaders have sparked speculation about shifts in foreign policy, it is difficult to judge whether China will immediately relax regulations.”
Public sentiment within China is also considered a significant variable. Due to lingering resentment from the THAAD deployment and nationalist sentiments tied to cultural and historical issues, the Chinese authorities are expected to remain cautious about cultural openness.
Sarah Keese, a media scholar at Macquarie University in Australia, stated, “If the hallyu ban was lifted, it would certainly be a boon for the Korean cultural industry,” but added, “Whether China will gain tangible benefits depends on how directly it is connected to its own industrial development, such as tourism and brand collaborations.”
She further predicted, “While China may gradually ease these unofficial restrictions, the process will be very slow, and it could take around five years for Korean entertainers to regain activities in China at levels comparable to the past.”
There is also speculation that the political stances of Korean Wave stars will be an important criterion in deciding whether performances are permitted. Wu Chang Chang argued, “If Korean Wave entertainers are allowed to perform in China, their political views will be a fundamental consideration. Those who advocate for Taiwan or Hong Kong independence should not even entertain the idea of holding concerts in China.”