Hopes rise for Hallyu thaw, but K-pop remains wary of China expansion

Anticipation is rising in South Korea over the possible easing of China’s nearly decadelong restrictions on Korean popular culture, following President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to the world’s second-largest economy. The unofficial restrictions, widely seen as a Hallyu ban, were imposed in 2016 following South Korea’s deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system, effectively blocking approval for K-pop performances and the broadcast of Korean entertainment content in China. Speaking to th