In recent years, China, South Korea, and Japan have made a motion to be friendlier towards one another. China and South Korea have made efforts to have relations that are more open. This fostered cultural exchanges between the three countries. However, a couple years ago, tensions between North and South Korea were revived with the installation by the United States of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD). The threat THAAD presents also cooled relations with China. The THAAD system lead China to restrict access to Hallyu also known as Korean Wave Music.
“Korean Wave” is the flow of South Korean entertainment that started in the early 1990s and created a music genre specific to South Korea. “Kpop” (Korean Pop) was pioneered by artists such as BoA (Korean female singer), H.O.T (early Korean male group), and DBSK also known as TVXQ (another Korean male group). Since 2015, China and Korea have had a steady exchange of culture and relations through entertainment. EXO’s group member, Lay became a youth Ambassador for China while promoting with his Korean music group, EXO.1 His promotions which include album releases, commercials, and movies are done under his individual name in China and through EXO in Korea. The work of Zhang Yixing and EXO serve as a testimony of the impact the flow of cultural icons and they work between the two countries. The Korean Wave includes both art and entertainment. Its popularity fosters cultural exchanges between the citizens of China and South Korea. The success of groups such as EXO, Big Bang, and GOT7 helped to open dialogue.
Although citizen opinion is positive, China had become determined to change this. The implementation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea lead China to react negatively. THAAD is a defense system against medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. Issuing of the THAAD system worries China because it downgrades Chinese security capabilities.2 The reason is quite simple: the THAAD system has a radar build in that enables it to seek out medium and intermediate range missiles in flight and this radar can also have a second function to help discover missile locations on the ground in China which gives the United States a strategic advantage in case of war. This removes China’s ability to keep their missile locations hidden putting them at a major disadvantage. This disadvantage is only amplified by the close proximity of these countries. China and South Korea sandwich North Korea and the Yellow Sea. This proximity is exactly what made the THAAD system necessary, so that it can block missiles that pass over the Yellow Sea or ones North Korea.3 Until then, South Korea and China had some interactions, but North Korean aggression has prompted South Korea to utilize the THAAD system through their American ally.4 The South Korean government in conjunction with the United States began construction in the area surrounding Seongju and completed the work in September of 2017. China has become hostile towards the South Korean government because of many Chinese officials viewing THAAD’s deployment as a sort of betrayal.5 This became evident when the Chinese government did not send high-ranking officials to attend the South Korean Embassy’s National Day reception in 2016. Another example came when the People’s Republic of China suspended high-level talks between the two countries and postponed the visit from the South Korea’s defense minister.6 Asian culture requires a very high level of respect which is usually displayed during important events such as these. However, the actions of China towards South Korea have shown increasing tension between the two.7 This has had a negative impact on diplomatic relations and took a toll on cultural exchanges when China banned Korean entertainment. Korean TV shows that were aired in China were abruptly stopped, faces of Korean actors were blurred out, and Korean names were replaced with Chinese ones during the ending credits. Many Kpop bands had to halt events such as concerts and tours, while Korean film and TV copyright sales decreased in China.8 These were quite drastic censorship measures aimed at erasing all Korean presence in China.
Meanwhile in South Korea, the President, Moon Jae-in had used Kpop’s regional popularity to foster diplomacy. He gifted an autographed EXO album and video message featuring Minho of SHINee to the first daughter of Indonesia during her wedding. This gift helped Indonesian relations with South Korea prosper. This form of diplomacy had also been applied to their Chinese relations. One group with a huge influence in China is EXO. As mentioned before, one member of the popular South Korean boy band, EXO is Chinese and China named him as Youth Ambassador. Zhang Yixing (Lay) is currently promoting in China while proudly representing the Korean group. EXO also consists of a sub unit called EXO-CBX which is comprised of members Chen (JongDae), Baekhyun, and Xiumin (MinSeok). This unit alongside Korean actress Song Hye Kyo (Descendants of the Sun) were used in President Moon Jae-in’s plan involving China.9 The Korea- China Economic and Trade Partnership Forum, President Moon Jae-in deployed the use of Korean idols to warm tensions between the two countries. Sub-unit CBX and Song Hye Kyo made guest appearances during this meeting and used their charm to win the hearts of important Chinese diplomats, thus allowing for a more neutral surrounding while dealing with important trade issues. Since, China and Korea had made steady efforts to increase their future relations in a positive manner. All of that was abruptly stopped by the installation of THAAD!
“We are one!” is the slogan of EXO which perfectly encompasses the model for South Korean-Chinese aspirations. Both countries want to move towards relations that are open and have a policy centered on their common ground. The Hallyu Wave provides this very needed common interest. Although THAAD put a stain on Korea and China relations, the efforts of President Moon Jae-in and the use of media outlets for music and entertainment can foster a comfortable diplomatic setting post-THAAD. With increasingly steady relations between the two, the past may become a “Walk on Memories”.10
In addition to improving Chinese relations, South Korea recently revealed the use of Kpop idols such as Red Velvet, and popular vocalists such as Cho Yong- Pil, Lee Sun- Hee, in addition to rock singer Yoon Do- Hyun and Singer Baek Ji- Young helped warm relations with North Korea.11 Although unification is not currently on the horizon, a joint summit between North and South Korea is scheduled for the 27 of April of this year and a possible meeting of Kim Jong-Un and President Trump in May. South Korean K-pop seems to be a “Transformer” [pun intended!] for positive relations for South Korea. 12
- EXO, The 2nd Album “EXODUS,’ 2015, MY ANSWER ↵
- Swaine “Chinese views on South Korea’s deployment of THAAD,” China Leadership Monitor 52, no. 4 (2017). ↵
- Daniel Gomà , “The Chinese-Korean Border Issue: An Analysis of a Contested Frontier,” Asian Survey 46, no 6 (2006): 867-80. doi:10.1525/as.2006.46.6.867. ↵
- Zhu Feng, “Shifting Tides: China and North Korea,” in The Architecture of Security in the Asia-Pacific, edited by HUISKEN RON, 45-58. ANU Press, 2009. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt24h898.10. ↵
- Micheal Swaine, “Chinese views on South Korea’s deployment of THAAD,” China Leadership Monitor 52, no. 4 (2017). ↵
- Micheal Swaine, “Chinese views on South Korea’s deployment of THAAD,” China Leadership Monitor 52, no. 4 (2017). ↵
- Jae- Ho Chung, “China’s “Soft” Clash with South Korea: The History War and Beyond,” Asian Survey 49, no. 3 (2009): 468-83. doi:10.1525/as.2009.49.3.468. ↵
- Sonia Kil, “China’s Blockade of Cultural Korea Marks Troublesome Anniversary,” Variety, 24 Aug 2017, Accessed 19 Feb 2018, http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/china-ban-on-korea-culture-anniversary-1202537823/. ↵
- Hong Dam- Young, Song Hye-kyo, EXO-CBX meet President Moon Jae-In in Beijing,” The Korean Herald. 14 Dec 2017, Accessed 30 Jan 2018, http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171214000801. ↵
- EXO, The War – The 4th Album, 2017, Walk on Memories. ↵
- Christine Kim, Heekyong Yang, “North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Wife, Watch South Korean K-Pop stars perform in Pyongyang,” Reuters, 2 April 2018, Accessed 3 April 2018. ↵
- EXO, The 2nd Album ‘EXODUS,’ 2015, TRANSFORMER. ↵
75 comments
Matthew Wyatt
Though this article takes an interesting alternate perspective on diplomatic relations in Southeast Asia, it’s strengths are hindered by a plethora of minor errors. One more round of careful editing should fix the problem easily. Also, because the article relies heavily on Korean pop-culture figures, there are several sections that become hard to read, feeling more like a listing of names without context than a cohesive narrative. Consider using only the most necessary references for your narrative, allowing you to spend time defining them more clearly for the average reader who doesn’t know anything about Korean pop-culture.
Maria Esquivel
This was a very captivating article on how entertainment and music have impacted China and Korea. I’ve heard a little about Kpop, so it was interesting to read how some of these artists; such as Zhang Yixing became a youth ambassador for China. In conclusion, I was quite surprised to read that China banned Korean entertainment; to read why this ban happened was really interesting. Good job!
Edgar Ramon
Wow this is interesting. Not only will pop culture from South Korea, which is already somewhat popular in the U.S., expand to China, but it was used as a tension reducer. Why K-pop wasn’t present in China, i do not know, but this will definitely create a friendlier China. I do not personally hear this music, I just don’t like pop in general, but I remember a lot of girls back in my highschool listened or talked about it. Just give it some time, there’s going to be some sort of K-pop music craze in China hahaha.
Natalie Childs
This was a really interesting and unexpected article. I loved the approach of taking pop culture and recounting it with something like THAAD and just how they effect each other. Also, it is really interesting that the president of south Korea is using Kpop items to foster diplomacy with different countries. It is crazy to think something such as pop culture can ease tensions between hostile countries.
Luis Morales
This was a very interesting article. I especially liked this article since it discusses to countries the U.S. does not have great relationships with. It was interesting to read that China had banned Korean entertainment as a way to cut off connections with them. I love how this article focused on the importance of learning about other cultures, and learning to accept those cultures although they may be different from your own.
Iris Henderson
This article was very informative in that it shared how music and art has helped relieve tensions between different groups of people. Through music and art, China, Japan, and South Korea, have been able to establish friendlier relations. This article emphasizes the importance of learning about other cultures, moreover, learning to accept those cultures although they may be different from your own. Although the implementing of the THAAD system has caused major setbacks in relations between the countries, hopefully they can overcome this year and get back to becoming more united as a region.
Raven H
Interesting article! This really emphasizes how kpop isn’t only for entertainment purposes but also influences unity.
daymeion
so basically this is on relations between Asian countries interesting topic I have quite a few friends whod be interested in this type of stuff
Hanadi Sonouper
This was a very interesting article to read, especially because its concentration was mostly on two known rival enemies, Korea and China. It has become globally known that the two countries have not always been on good terms, however, in recent news activities it seems that there is a light to change their relationship. It was interesting to read that china had banned Korean entertainment as a way to cut of connections with them, however I would disagree that culture influences are one of the best ways to come together. Overall, it is pleasantly surprising to read that they are now on better terms, but if it is not for the fans of entertainment and music it would have not been possible.
Tapia Jose
I was very intrigued in the way the South Korean government was able to ease the tension between them and other asian countries through the use of Korean entertainment. This reminded me of the way Mandela was able to use the rugby team in South Africa to unite the divided community. I will be looking foward to knowing more about the upcoming meeting between Kim Jong Un and president Trump.