'Descendants of the Sun' stars Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki at the Chengdu Fan Meet on June 17. (Photo : YouTube/King Drama)
The South Korea-United States Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) pact didn't bode well with its neighboring China, which implemented a ban against Hallyu stars, Korean dramas, music and the like. The backlash on South Korea's entertainment industry is seen as a serious blow, considering China is one of its largest markets.
Following the implementation of the ban in August, several Korean stars cancelled their shows in China while some were reportedly blocked from entering the country. As per Yonhap News, "Uncontrollably Fond" stars Kim Woo Bin and Suzy Bae were supposed to have a meet-and-greet in China in August, but organizers cancelled it due to "reasons out of their control." It was rumored that the cancellation was due in part to the ban.
TV stations in Guangdong province told the South China Morning Post that they'd received orders from the national media watchdogs that approvals for shows featuring K-pop idols would no longer be granted in the future.
"They told us to postpone any plans for new programmes that involve South Korean stars or copyright for South Korean TV shows," a source said. "They said we would not get approval, even if we made such plans."
The regulation made an immediate impact on the shares of major South Korean talent agencies. YG Entertainment-which manages Big Bang and CL-reportedly saw a dip in their stocks by nearly 9 percent.
However, some stars aren't as affected by the ban compared to most. One of the celebrities that still retain a strong following in China is "Descendants of the Sun" actress Song Hye Kyo. She's still very much adored by her Chinese fanbase, who've maintained a sense of loyalty to her.
Fellow "Descendants of the Sun" star Song Joong Ki appears unaffected by the ban. In August, he attended a promotional event for a Chinese cosmetics brand at Shanghai's Qizhong stadium. He appeared together with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. Reports say the stadium was packed with fans.
When "Descendants of the Sun" first aired in China, the government discouraged its citizens from watching the show. Despite this, it still became a huge success in the country.
