BTS's newly announced world tour leaves out China, and industry watchers warn it may take time before Beijing rolls back its unofficial "Hallyu ban" on Korean entertainment.
On the 1st (local time), Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao highlighted that while BTS teased a massive tour spanning some 30 cities worldwide, mainland China was notably absent — evidence, the outlet argued, that Chinese restrictions on Korean cultural content remain in effect.
China has effectively curbed the entry of Korean celebrities and content since South Korea's 2016 deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense). As a result, K-pop concerts have largely been confined to Hong Kong and Macao.
Although Seoul–Beijing relations have shown gradual signs of improvement, experts remain cautious, saying a full repeal of the Hallyu restrictions is unlikely in the short term.
Domestic sentiment in China is another variable. With lingering backlash over THAAD and nationalist feelings tied to cultural and historical disputes, analysts say authorities are likely to move carefully on reopening the cultural space.