"Descendants of the Sun" actor Song Joong-ki is no longer the face of Chinese smartphone maker Vivo. The company has officially named "The Great Wall" actor Eddie Peng as the new brand ambassador.
The Korean actor was Vivo's face between May and July but the tech giant was forced to part ways with the actor amid the ongoing THAAD dispute between China and South Korea. Peng, a Taiwanese national, is a reflection of the brand's vibrancy and positivity, according to the company.
Song is a popular name not only in Korea but also across Asia thanks to the romantic military drama "Descendants of the Sun." Capitalizing on the actor's popularity, several Asian companies, including Vivo, signed him on to endorse their products and boost their brand name, according to the Korea Times.
The Hallyu star was dropped as Vivo's brand ambassador as a result of the rising tensions over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) dispute. In July, South Korea and United States' announced their decision to deploy the anti-ballistic missile system to defend themselves against missile threats from North Korea.
However, China has strongly opposed the decision and because of this, Hallyu celebrities' activities in China are being affected. China recently stepped up its actions to impose a ban on Hallyu content in the mainland. This means that all Korean content including dramas, films, variety programs, and remakes will be banned from broadcast in China, according to Soompi.
Even though Song has been replaced as the face of Vivo, he will be receiving a fat paycheck from the smartphone maker. As per his contract with Vivo, he would be paid 22 million yuan or $3.3 million a year regardless of the outcome and the company promised to fulfill the terms of the contract.
Check out Peng in Vivo's X9 commercial below: