The Chinese authorities have yet to fully lift the 'ban on Korean entertainment' initiated due to the 2016 THAAD system, leaving many Sino-Korean collaborative works from that period still unable to be broadcast. Recently, Korean media reported that the ban may be 'thawing', with hopes for the earliest lifting happening this May. However, Beijing has not responded, and Chinese netizens have mixed reactions.
The reason for the possible lifting of the ban is that South Korea and China are set to host and chair the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the upcoming years, leading to an agreement to strengthen cooperation. Additionally, with shifting international dynamics, there is an increasing need for cooperation between China and South Korea in various fields. Reportedly, the ban imposed by China previously caused losses to the Korean entertainment industry, estimated at up to 22 trillion Korean won (approximately 67.77 billion RM).
Following the report, the stock prices of related industries such as Korean entertainment, cosmetics, and tourism rose on the 20th of this month. Netizens have split reactions, with some Korean netizens thinking that it was because of the ban that the Korean wave expanded globally, opening up larger markets. Chinese netizens said, ‘Are the oppas and unnies coming over, and panda girls no longer need to envy others?’, 'Is it true? It seemed like someone said this last year', 'Don't lift it, or effeminate culture will join in again', 'That sounds as if domestic entertainment isn’t effeminate.'