Relations between Beijing and Seoul are improving under South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. This follows a high-profile trip to Beijing by Mr. Lee, his second meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in under three months.
Summit Outcomes
During the recent summit, the governments of Mr. Lee and Mr. Xi signed US$44 million (A$65.8 million) worth of trade deals and several memorandums of understanding. The improved ties have generated hope in South Korea that long-standing restrictions on its pop culture in China may be lifted.
Background on Cultural Restrictions
China imposed a de facto ban on South Korean pop culture (known as Hallyu or the Korean Wave) in 2016. This action followed the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea, which Beijing perceived as a threat. The ban has prevented South Korean artists from touring in China and limited the screening of South Korean films and celebrity appearances in advertisements or broadcasts.
Previously, under right-wing president Yoon Suk Yeol, relations between the two nations had deteriorated. The 'Korean Wave' refers to the global rise in popularity of Korean popular culture since the 1990s, including successes like Netflix's "Squid Game" and the film "Parasite."
Signs of Thawing Relations
After the recent summit, Korean officials stated that China maintains no formal ban exists. Korean national security advisor Wi Sung-lac noted that the situation is not entering a clear lifting phase, but the two countries agreed to cultural exchanges, including in sport.
President Lee indicated the issue would be "resolved gradually, step by step," with President Xi likening the process to "ice melting or ripe fruit falling from a tree." There have been early indicators of this, such as the Korean hip-hop group Homies performing in Wuhan in April. Additionally, after a bilateral summit in November, Kim Young-bae of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party reported a positive response from Mr. Xi regarding a major K-pop performance in Beijing.
Chinese travel booking site Qunar reported Seoul as the top destination at the beginning of 2026. A full lifting of the Hallyu ban could be a significant political victory for President Lee and boost economic confidence in South Korea, particularly in sectors dependent on China.