[Exclusive] China Cancels 'Dream Concert'... The Korean Wave Ban Remains Unresolved

Large-Scale K-pop Joint Concert Postponed After 9 Years
Postponed Due to China’s Denial of Permit... Effectively Canceled
Concerts by Jay Chou Approved During the Same Period
Political Circles: "More Time Needed Before the Ban Is Lifted"

A view of the 30th Dream Concert held last year at Goyang Sports Complex. Photo by Korea Entertainment Producers Association

The "2025 Dream Concert," which had drawn attention as a watershed moment for the lifting of the Korean Wave ban in China, has ultimately been postponed. The large-scale K-pop joint concert, which was to be held in mainland China for the first time in nine years, was canceled after failing to secure performance approval.

On September 11, multiple entertainment industry sources told Asia Economy that the organizers had notified the agencies of all participating artists that the concert, originally scheduled for September 26 in Sanya, Hainan Province, China, would be postponed. In effect, the event has been canceled.

There is no record of approval for the Dream Concert on the official portals of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China or the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports. In contrast, concerts by Chinese stars such as Jay Chou scheduled for the same period have been approved.

The Dream Concert had been anticipated as a test bed for the resumption of cultural exchanges between Korea and China. However, the failure to obtain approval has put the brakes on efforts to restart cultural exchanges in China. Industry insiders view the successful hosting of a large-scale concert with over 10,000 seats in mainland China as a key indicator of whether the Korean Wave ban will be lifted. This year’s venue was to be the Sanya Sports Stadium, which has a capacity of 50,000 seats.

First launched in 1995 and now marking its 31st anniversary, the Dream Concert is the longest-running joint K-pop concert in Korea. Major groups such as BTS, EXO, Seventeen, and Twice have taken the stage, and last year’s lineup included Xdinary Heroes, Choi Yena, Kiss of Life, H1-Key, NCT Wish, and Fifty Fifty.

Recently, K-pop concerts in China have been repeatedly canceled. The group Kep1er and Kid Milli attracted attention immediately after announcing their concerts, only to receive sudden cancellation notices. EPEX’s solo concert in Fuzhou was also postponed. Last year, indie musician The Black Skirts performed in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, as a U.S. citizen, but large-scale concerts featuring Korean idol groups have been consistently blocked. While China strictly controls permits for large concerts, it is relatively more lenient with fan meetings, media events, and merchandise shop operations.

The Korean Wave ban intensified after the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in 2016. Following Big Bang’s concert that year, performances by Korean artists in mainland China were effectively halted, and Korean dramas and variety shows were also blocked from programming. Since then, activities shifted to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and entertainment agencies maintained local fandoms by including Chinese members in their groups.

The Chinese government does not officially acknowledge the existence of the Korean Wave ban. Authorities maintain the stance that "there have never been any restrictions, so there is nothing to lift." However, in practice, they have restricted Korean pop culture activities by limiting performance permits and content programming. The cancellation of the Dream Concert is seen as part of this ongoing trend. Industry insiders point out that "substantial opening measures are necessary."

There have been signs of easing as well. Last month, the National Radio and Television Administration officially announced plans to expand the import and broadcast of overseas programs, and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it "remains open to cultural exchange and cooperation." The state-run Global Times described the Korean drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" as "the most acclaimed work in recent years," while the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Ive’s fan signing event in Shanghai and Twice’s local activities, indicating a growing acceptance of Korean pop culture.

The growth potential of the Chinese concert market remains significant. Last year, the market size was estimated at 2.222 billion dollars (approximately 3.0883 trillion won), and it is projected to expand to 2.727 billion dollars (approximately 3.7902 trillion won) by 2027. According to the Korea Customs Service, China ranked third in Korean album exports last year, with a total value of 59.79 million dollars (about 8.31 billion won). Even during the period when concerts were blocked, Chinese fandoms continued to purchase albums through joint overseas orders.

In political circles, there is a consensus that more time will be needed before the Korean Wave ban is lifted. Park Byeongseok, former Speaker of the National Assembly who led President Lee Jaemyung’s special envoy to China, predicted that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Korea in October to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, but also stated, "There are still hurdles to overcome regarding the opening of cultural content." He added, "China’s standards for what constitutes healthy culture differ from those of Korea, and complete openness will require more time and mutual understanding."

Popular culture critic Kim Heonsik commented, "China’s cultural industry policy remains in effect, making the situation unpredictable and fluid. Content companies and fans are always hoping for the inflow of Korean content, but the situation can change rapidly depending on government decisions. A response strategy that takes this volatility into account is essential."