LayarHijau – After nearly eight years under an unofficial ban on Korean entertainment content, cultural ties between South Korea and China are finally showing signs of recovery. The breakthrough comes after the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and China Media Group (CMG), two major state-owned broadcasters, officially signed an agreement for content exchange.
The deal opens the door for Korean programs, including KBS’s flagship Music Bank World Tour, to potentially return to Chinese screens. This marks a significant step forward, as K-pop and Korean dramas have been largely absent from the Chinese market since 2016 due to diplomatic tensions over the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.
KBS President Park Jang-beom called the agreement a “meaningful breakthrough,” suggesting it will allow Korea’s content industry to more actively re-enter the Chinese market. His statement signaled a strong intention from both sides to repair cultural relations that have been strained for years.
The announcement immediately made waves in the South Korean stock market. Shares of major entertainment companies — including SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and Hybe — saw noticeable gains following news of the cooperation. Investors view this as a strategic opportunity, especially given China’s continued status as one of the biggest potential markets for Korean content exports.
In 2023, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan accounted for 26.1% of Korea’s music export revenue, even as Korean content was still heavily restricted. This number reflects how strong demand for K-pop and Korean dramas remains among Chinese audiences, despite limited access.
Beyond the economic impact, the restored partnership also reignites hope for the return of major cross-cultural events, such as the Korea-China Song Festival, which was last held in 2016. Speculation has even emerged about large-scale concerts in Beijing, following JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young’s recent appearance alongside Xi Jinping and the South Korean president at a state event.
Many see this as the beginning of a cultural thaw between the two countries. While no concrete timeline has been set for broadcast or concert schedules in China, the official agreement between state broadcasters lays a solid foundation for the return of Korean entertainment in one of its most valuable global markets.
