'The Black Skirts' Performed in China in January This Year
Changes Also Observed in the Film Industry
Korean trio rapper group 'Homies' held a concert in China for the first time in eight years as Korean nationality singers.
According to diplomatic sources on the 17th, Homies held the first performance of their spring tour 'Brothers' on the 12th of this month in Wuhan, Hubei Province, central China, meeting with fans.
China has applied an unofficial retaliatory measure called 'Hanhanryeong' (限韓令, Hallyu Restriction Order), which restricts Korean music, dramas, and movies, since around 2016 in response to the deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system by the US Forces Korea. Since then, Korean pop singers have not been permitted to perform in China.
In July last year, news emerged that Korean rock band 'Say Sue Me' would perform in Beijing. The ambassador to China expressed a welcoming stance, but the concert was suddenly canceled three weeks before the event. It was suggested that somewhat negative public opinion and media attention toward Korea in China at the time might have influenced the cancellation.
However, at the end of last year and in January this year, Korean indie singer-songwriter 'The Black Skirts' (American nationality) was granted permission to perform in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province; Wuhan, Hubei Province; and Zhengzhou, Henan Province, leading to observations that the atmosphere had changed.
Following this, with Homies, who hold Korean nationality, performing, there is analysis that China's cultural opening trend has gained further momentum. On the 12th, when Homies performed in Wuhan, an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the sisterhood between Jeju Island and Hainan Province was held in southern China's Hainan Province. Korean trot singer Yoon Su-hyun also took the stage.
Changes are being observed not only in the music industry but also in the film industry. Earlier this month, it was revealed that actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, who rose to global stardom through the Netflix series 'Squid Game,' met with Chinese entertainment company officials in Beijing.
Under pressure from the 'Trump 2nd term' US administration, China has been making considerable efforts to improve relations with neighboring countries this year. Toward Korea, it has shown conciliatory gestures such as unilateral visa waivers and emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange. Some speculate that since President Xi Jinping is likely to visit Korea during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju in October or November, there may be changes to the Hanhanryeong this year as part of efforts to establish a turning point in Korea-China relations.
President Xi reportedly told National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who visited Harbin in February, that he is seriously considering attending the APEC summit. The Speaker's office conveyed that Xi said, "Cultural exchange is an attractive part of bilateral relations, and problems arising during the exchange process should be avoided."
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