Nine Years After the HANHAN Ruling Is Overturned... EPEX Gets Permission for a Solo Concert in China

The K-POP boy group EPEX, composed entirely of Korean nationals, will hold a solo performance in Fuzhou, China, on May 31. The concert, titled “Youth Deficiency in Fuzhou,” was officially approved by the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Fuzhou City in Fujian Province, southeastern China, as announced by their agency C9 Entertainment on the 29th. This event holds significant historical importance because it marks the first time a K-POP group with all Korean citizenship has held a solo concert on Chinese mainland soil since China imposed the HANHAN Ruling in 2016 in response to the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system by U.S. forces in South Korea. While foreign-born K-POP stars have appeared on Chinese TV programs and Korean musicians have occasionally performed there, this is the first official commercial concert by an idol group. The performance will take place at the Fuzhou University City Cultural and Art Center, which can accommodate over 1,100 people, and EPEX plans to perform 19 songs including “Universe,” “Lockdown,” and “A Secret I Can Share.” This is part of their “Youth Deficiency” tour that began in Seoul last December, following shows in Macau and Taipei, Taiwan. The music industry interprets this approval as a signal that the HANHAN Ruling is being eased. At the end of last year and in January this year, American singer-songwriter “Jeomjeongchima” (Jo Hui-il) performed in China, and this month, the Korean three-member rap group “Homides” held a tour in Wuhan, while actor and singer Kim Jae-jung conducted a fan meeting in Chongqing. However, EPEX’s concert is particularly significant because it involves an official commercial performance permit, setting it apart from previous cases. C9 Entertainment stated, “EPEX has become the first idol group made up entirely of Koreans to cross into the Chinese mainland, emerging as a new leader for K-POP popularity there.” They added, “Since their Debut, they have worked to connect with Chinese fans by holding photo shoots and interviews for Chinese magazines and by organizing local fan sign-ups in Shanghai and Chengdu in January this year.” It is reported that discussions are also underway to hold solo concerts in other regions of China. Nevertheless, the industry remains cautious. Global top-tier artists like BTS and BLACKPINK require large venues with 10,000 to 20,000 seats or more for their performances. A music industry manager with over 30 years of experience said, “There have been rumors since early this year that the HANHAN Ruling might be eased around May or June, but it seems permission is only being granted for small-scale concerts in local areas with under 2,000 seats, not in Beijing. Since major artists need venues with 10,000 seats or more, we need to wait and see.” At a press briefing on the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Zekun said, “We maintain an open attitude toward conducting beneficial cultural exchanges and cooperation with South Korea, and we hope South Korea will work together with China to promote progress in various fields of exchange and cooperation between the two countries.” Sino-Korean relations began to improve after the trilateral summit held in Seoul last May, and China has shown increased efforts to improve ties around the time of the inauguration of Trump’s second U.S. administration earlier this year.