Vivo Smartphone, the Chinese phone brand, just dropped the "Descendants of the Sun" actor Song Joong-Ki from its advertising in China. The 30-year-old Hallyu star had been featured in the company's commercial in Korea and China since May.
Song, who catapulted to international fame after starring in KBS 2TV's "Descendants of the Sun," signed a 22.8 million yuan ($3.4 million) exclusive contract with Vivo Smartphone in May. Due to his tremendous popularity, both locally and internationally, the multinational technology company tapped Song to model the X7 smartphone.
However, Vivo Smartphone announced on Aug. 7, Sunday that they would pull back the actor's ads due to unavoidable circumstances, according to a local news outlet China Daily, as cited by The Kpop Herald. Since the breach of contract is not because of any deficiency of the actor, Vivo Smartphone made it clear that they will pay Song all the fees owed to him.
The unexpected termination of the contract is credited to the rising tension between South Korea and China over Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). On Aug. 1, China's General Office of Broadcasting and Television ordered local broadcasters to restrain the scope of Korean idol groups and actors' promotions and endorsements in the country.
The Korean idol groups and actors are now prohibited from appearing in any Chinese TV shows. They are also not allowed to hold any meet-and-greet events and concerts with more than 10,000 audiences.
Not long after the ban made noise on the web, rumors abound that Song received a 100 million yuan ($15 million) casting offer to headline an upcoming Chinese TV drama. Unfortunately, the supposed casting was canceled following the statewide ban.
"It is true that Song Joong-Ki is receiving a variety of casting offers for dramas and films in China," a representative from Blossom Entertainment said in a statement obtained by Soompi. "However, we have not discussed his appearance in any project yet. The only project he has confirmed his casting for following 'Descendants of the Sun' is the film 'Battleship Island'."
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