An all-Korean K-pop boy group is preparing to hold a standalone concert in China next month, raising hopes that Beijing may be easing its unofficial ban on South Korean entertainment.
C9 Entertainment announced on Tuesday that its eight-member boy group, Epex, will perform in Fuzhou, China, on May 31. This concert is part of their Asian tour, which began in Seoul last December.
China imposed an effective ban on South Korean pop music, TV dramas, and films around 2016. Many saw this as retaliation for South Korea’s deployment of the U.S. missile-defense system THAAD. Since then, South Korean pop singers have not been allowed to perform in China.
Although K-pop stars with foreign nationalities have sometimes appeared on Chinese television, Epex’s concert would be the first time in nine years that an all-Korean K-pop group holds a solo concert in China since the 2016 restrictions.
Signs of change have appeared in recent months. In January, the Black Skirts, a South Korea-based American indie rock artist of Korean descent, was allowed to perform in China. Earlier this month, Homies, an all-Korean three-member hip-hop group, also held a tour concert there.
In addition, Korean singer-actor Kim Jae-joong recently hosted a fan meeting in Chongqing. These events have added to growing speculation that China may be loosening its restrictions on South Korean entertainers.
There is cautious optimism in the industry. Many believe that the Chinese performance market could soon reopen for major K-pop stars. Epex’s concert, being a full-scale performance and not just a fan meeting, strengthens that hope. Idol groups usually have larger fan bases than indie or hip-hop acts.
At present, major K-pop artists like J-Hope of BTS, Seventeen, Zerobaseone, and EXO’s Kai are performing in Macau to meet their Chinese fans, rather than on the mainland.
However, industry experts say a true reopening will depend on whether Chinese authorities allow large-scale concerts. High-profile K-pop acts typically need venues that can seat between 10,000 and 20,000 people.
“Around the beginning of this year, there were rumors that the ban on South Korean entertainment would ease around May or June,” said a veteran K-pop industry insider with over 30 years of experience managing singers. “Right now, there seems to be an allowance for smaller performances at venues in regional cities with fewer than 2,000 seats. But for major artists, we must wait and see if large venues will become available.”
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