Korea-China Cultural Exchange Committee: "Expectations for Lifting Hallyu Ban after State Banquet Are Premature"

The Korea-China Cultural Exchange Committee stated on the 1st that expectations for the lifting of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) ban are excessive and premature, in response to reports about the conversation between President Xi Jinping and Park Jinyoung, Chairman of the Korea-China Cultural Exchange Committee, during the state banquet at the Korea-China summit.

President Lee Jae-myung is shaking hands with Xi Jinping, President of China, at the state banquet held on the 1st at Sono Calm Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk.
Photo by Yonhap News

At the state banquet held at Sono Calm Hotel in Gyeongju on the same day, Chairman Park Jinyoung reportedly proposed to President Xi Jinping that Korean singers perform in China, and President Xi responded positively. Following this, some media outlets reported heightened expectations for the lifting of the Korean Wave ban.

However, on the 2nd, the Korea-China Cultural Exchange Committee issued a press release stating, "We understand the conversation between President Xi Jinping and Chairman Park Jinyoung of the Korea-China Cultural Exchange Committee as a general exchange of pleasantries at an official diplomatic event," adding, "It is cautious and premature to overinterpret this."

Nevertheless, the Committee added, "As the atmosphere of friendly cooperation between the two countries has been further enhanced through this Korea-China summit, we expect even more active cultural exchanges in the future."