[HanCinema's News] Entertainment Industry Continues to Recover From THAAD Boycott

The THAAD Boycott has been a source of tension between South Korea and China ever since the controversial anti ballistic missile defense system was deployed in 2016. However, with the current anti-Japan boycott proving to have much more energy behind it, there are signs of a thaw in South Korean business relations with China, as actor Kim Soo-hyun was selected to represent the Korean beauty brand DPC at a recent event in Shanghai.

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Kim Soo-hyun has not been a hot performer as of late. Though he was a massive success in China with "My Love from the Star", there has been little to recommend him in lately. But then, that's probably part of the point. Kim Soo-hyun is a reminder of a pre-THAAD era in relations between South Korea and China. K-Pop stars as well have been active in the region as of late, with fan signings or even appearing in local projects, and China has also been importing variety show formats.

But this is a far cry from the more ambitious co-productions of years past. "Jade Lovers" was greenlighted at a major strong point to maximize the appeal of lead actor Lee Jong-suk, but the formerly major project lost traction in the wake of the THAAD boycott. Many other projects, such as "Flying Kite", were left in even less complete shape than "Jade Lovers". The risk of similar future projects being disrupted has cramped investment even as South Korean performers have started working in China again.

Written by William Schwartz