Cautious hopes Beijing lifting soft ban on South Korean pop culture

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

News feature on how China’s “soft ban” on South Korean films, K‑pop and celebrities, which began in 2016 over Seoul’s deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system, may soon be eased as diplomatic relations warm.

Subject

The article deals with China potentially lifting its long-standing ban on South Korean pop culture, including K-pop and films, as diplomatic relations between the two countries improve.
Period10 Jan 2026

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleCautious hopes Beijing lifting soft ban on South Korean pop culture
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletABC News
    Media typeWeb
    Duration/Length/Size750 words
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date10/01/26
    DescriptionNews feature on how China’s “soft ban” on South Korean films, K‑pop and celebrities—which began in 2016 over Seoul’s deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system—may soon be eased as diplomatic relations warm during President Lee Jae Myung’s recent meetings with Xi Jinping.
    Producer/AuthorMax Walden
    URLhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-10/china-ban-south-korean-pop-culture-could-lift-amid-warmer-ties/106205780
    PersonsSarah Keith
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