K-Pop EPEX Gets First Solo Concert Permit in China Since Hanhanryeong…Top Idol Group Performs After 9 Years

The all-Korean eight-member K-pop boy group EPEX will hold its solo concert “2025 EPEX 3rd Concert Youth Deficiency in Fuzhou” on May 31 in Fuzhou, China, marking the first time a top-tier K-pop idol group has been permitted to perform on Chinese mainland soil since the implementation of the Hanhanryeong in 2016. The Fuzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau officially approved EPEX’s performance on the 25th. The concert will take place at the Fuzhou University City Cultural and Art Center, which can accommodate around 1,100 attendees, and EPEX plans to perform 19 songs including “Universe,” “Lockdown,” and “A Secret I Can Share.” China imposed the Hanhanryeong in 2016 in response to the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system by U.S. forces in South Korea, implementing unofficial retaliatory measures to restrict Korean music, dramas, and films. While foreign-born K-pop stars have appeared on Chinese TV programs, this is the first time an all-Korean K-pop group will hold a commercial solo concert locally since the Hanhanryeong. C9 Entertainment stated, “EPEX has become the first idol group composed entirely of Koreans to cross into the Chinese market, emerging as a new leader for K-pop popularity there.” The agency added, “Since their Debut, they have worked to connect with Chinese fans by participating in magazine shoots and interviews in China, and holding fan sign-ups in Shanghai and Chengdu in January this year.” This concert is part of EPEX’s “Youth Deficiency” tour that began in Seoul last December, with stops in Macau and Taipei, Taiwan following in May before arriving in Fuzhou. Although concerts by hip-hop artists or trot singers—whose influence is relatively smaller since the Hanhanryeong—and by American-Korean singer-songwriter Jimin have already been approved, this marks the first time a top idol group’s commercial concert is permitted. The music industry is cautiously optimistic that a market for top K-pop stars to perform in China might open up. Currently, famous K-pop stars such as BTS’s j-hope, SEVENTEEN, ZEROBASEONE, and EXO’s Kai hold concerts in Macau instead of mainland China to reach fans in the Chinese-speaking region. However, most analysts believe that for top stars from large agencies who require massive venues with 10,000 to 20,000 seats, whether local authorities will approve such large-scale events is key to determining if the Hanhanryeong has truly been lifted. A music industry manager with over 30 years of experience said, “There have been rumors since early this year that the Hanhanryeong might be relaxed around May or June. It seems approvals are being given for smaller local concerts with 2,000 seats or fewer outside Beijing, but top singers need venues of 10,000 seats or more, so we need to wait and see.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Zaqun stated, “We remain open to conducting beneficial cultural exchanges and cooperation with South Korea.” Sino-Korean relations began to improve following the trilateral summit held in Seoul last May, and China appears to be pursuing a gradual and expanded opening policy this year.