Gyeongju: Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown a positive response to the idea of organizing a K-pop concert in Beijing, according to a South Korean lawmaker. The suggestion emerged during a state dinner held for President Xi in Gyeongju, South Korea, part of his official visit to the country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Kim Young-bae of the ruling Democratic Party shared the information in a Facebook post. Kim attended the dinner, where President Xi, along with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Park Jin-young, co-chair of the Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange, discussed the proposal. President Xi reportedly called over Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to provide further instructions on the matter.
South Korean entertainment, including K-pop, had enjoyed significant popularity in China until a blanket ban was imposed by Beijing. This ban was part of a reaction to South Korea's decision to deploy a U.S. missile defense system in 2016. The lawmaker expressed optimism that the recent interaction could lead to a lifting of the ban and the expansion of Korean cultural content in China.
In a press briefing related to Lee's summit with Xi, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac confirmed that both leaders agreed on increasing cultural exchanges and cooperation. The two countries plan to facilitate this through future working-level communications.