Reports have emerged that a Chinese state-run broadcaster is preparing a large-scale performance by inviting a K-pop idol group. This has sparked expectations that the ban on Korean cultural content (Hanhan-ryeong), imposed in response to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system by the U.S. military in South Korea in 2016, might be lifted after nine years, leading the term to rank first in real-time searches in China. However, the Chinese side denied this, stating it is "not true."
On the 2nd, China Central Television (CCTV) reported an article titled, "The China Central Broadcasting Station's Asia-Pacific Bureau has never invited the Korean idol group to hold a concert tour." The China Media Group (CMG) is a state-owned media company to which CCTV and others belong.
CCTV also noted, "Recently, there were reports that the Central Broadcasting Station sent a letter requesting cooperation regarding the invitation of a K-pop idol group to a Korean performance planning agency," and added, "According to confirmation from the CMG Asia-Pacific Bureau, that report is not true. There are currently no such plans." Relatedly, officials from the relevant K-pop planning agency in South Korea also reported that they have not received any invitation from the Chinese side.
Although the Chinese authorities officially denied the plan for inviting K-pop idols for performances, expectations are growing that the Hanhan-ryeong might be lifted, as recent K-pop performances have been receiving approval from the Chinese authorities. The Culture and Tourism Bureau of Fuzhou City in Fujian Province, southeastern China, granted permission for a concert by the K-pop eight-member boy group EPEX, scheduled for the 31st of this month.
There are also reports that a large-scale K-pop performance called "Dream Concert," with an expected crowd of about 40,000, will be held in Hainan, China, in September. Given the situation, many Chinese internet users are searching for this content even after the CMG's official denial, leading it to trend as the number one keyword on Weibo, China’s version of X (formerly known as Twitter), with the phrase "CMG has never requested a K-pop concert tour."