Preview of latest Korean drama posted on a Chinese site

After South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s state visit to China this month, a preview of the latest Korean drama series has been posted on one of the leading video sites in China. The Chinese government has banned an update of Korean drama series on China’s video sites since early this year due to the political row over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea. Some say there are signs of change in China regarding the ban, while others say it is too early to say so.

Since February this year, Korean cultural content has not been updated on any video sites in China. Viewers could only watch Korean drama series aired last year on leading Chinese video sites such as Yuku and iQiyi. Some Chinese viewers could watch Korean drama series through illegal sites, but the latest Korean drama series were nowhere to be seen on official Chinese video sites.

Meanwhile, about 30 Chinese companies, who want to import Korean TV programs and movies, attended the “Korea Content Day” event jointly hosted by the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Korean Culture Center on last Tuesday, raising expectations for the resumption of cultural exchange between the two countries.

“It is true that the atmosphere is changing for the better, but it will take some time for the Chinese government’s ban on Korean cultural content to be withdrawn,” said a source. “I am 100 percent positive that the relations between the two countries are improving. But the Chinese government will need some time to manage domestic complaints regarding the deployment of THAAD,” another source said.

Wan-Jun Yun zeitung@donga.com · Sun-Hee Jang sun10@donga.com