Under THAAD, no South Korean entertainment
Society & Culture
Top society and culture news for March 2, 2017. Part of the daily SupChina news roundup “Don’t meet Trump until ‘his head is covered with bumps’ — PLA adviser“
- China blocks Korean entertainment on streaming platforms over THAAD row / Billboard
China has reportedly blocked access to the latest South Korea music and dramas on the country’s online video-sharing platforms. The move is widely seen as part of China’s retaliatory actions against South Korea, which plans to install a THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system near Seoul. In January, concerts by South Korean soprano Sumi Jo, which were to take place in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in February, were canceled. On Tuesday, a China foreign ministry spokesperson was asked if the block on video platforms was in retaliation for the THAAD installation. His reply (in Chinese): “China always has a clear and consistent position on THAAD. In response to the specific circumstances you mentioned, I personally don’t watch South Korean drama or entertainment. I can’t answer.” Chinese social media erupted with various reactions. Some netizens welcomed the decision, with one comment reading, “National interests first. I voluntarily boycott South Korean entertainment.” Others, however, questioned “why the public should be denied entertainment access because of a political crisis.”
- Following the elections in the West – Chinese reactions on Wilders and “the rise of the right” / What’s on Weibo
- Big in China: Movies that earn more RMB than US$ / China Film Insider
- A Chinese period drama named its bad guys after today’s ruling elite — and the censors missed it / Quartz
- The subtle brilliance of ‘Mr. Donkey’ – the success of a darkly comic film / LARB Blog
- 10 White Houses, 4 Arcs de Triomphe, 2 Sphinxes…now China’s Tower Bridge attracts scorn – replica architecture / NYT (paywall)
