Cultural Exchange Committee cautions against premature interpretation of reports

At the Korea-China summit in Gyeongju on the first day, reports suggesting that the Han-ryeong restrictions on K-pop might be lifted prompted the Cultural Exchange Committee to push back against premature interpretations. The committee said in a press release on the second day that Xi Jinping’s remarks at the summit banquet and Park Jin-Young’s proposal for a Chinese performance by a Korean artist were “cordial exchanges” conducted at the formal level of diplomacy, not policy actions.

The committee warned that reading too much into the exchanges would be premature and reckless, while adding that the mood of cordiality between the two nations could foster more cultural exchanges in the future. Earlier, a National Security Council spokesperson noted that there was broad consensus to expand cultural exchanges and cooperation on content, and that practical coordination would be managed through ongoing channels.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae said in a social media post that he observed the leaders chatting and laughing at the table, and later, when asked by aides, there appeared to have been talk about a concert in Beijing; however, no agreement was reached. He cautioned that such discussions did not imply a formal commitment. The lawmaker also indicated that the report about a large-scale concert may have been discussed, but he did not confirm an agreement.

The Cultural Exchange Committee’s move to draw lines appears to reflect caution against prior instances where premature media reporting led to unintended consequences, such as earlier announcements that K-pop groups might perform in China. China’s ban on Korean content since 2016, following the THAAD deployment, has limited some broadcasts while not allowing large-scale concerts to resume.