Is China lifting its ban on K-pop? G-Dragon of BigBang rumoured to appear in coronavirus victims concert
- Korean pop bands have been invited to play in Chinese version of the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert, after China unofficially vetoed K-pop performances in 2016
- Rather than have a live audience, show will be live-streamed on YouTube and Chinese online platforms, with bands from Asia and Europe taking part
By Dong Sun-hwa
Is China lifting its unofficial ban on K-pop? Expectations are high after K-pop singers were invited to appear in the April 30 online concert “We are the World 2020”, which has been touted as the Chinese version of the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert for famine-stricken Africa, with the goal of helping victims of the coronavirus pandemic.
The concert is being organised by Freegos & KVLY – a joint venture recently established by Korean media commerce platform KVLY and Freegos Entertainment, China’s largest performance agency.
K-pop star G-Dragon of boy band BigBang is expected to be taking part, but his appearance has not been confirmed. All invited K-pop stars are slated to perform in Seoul, while the Chinese singers – who are rumoured to include Jay Chou and Jacky Cheung Hok-yau – will perform in Shenzhen, southern China. Artists hailing from Europe and other countries are likely to film their performances in Macau.
It was revealed last week that the state-affiliated China Benevolent General Association would send official invitations to South Korean music labels. The concert will not have a live audience but will be live-streamed on YouTube and Chinese online platforms. It would mark the first time that China has opened all its online platforms to Korean content since constraints began in 2016.