Singer PARK JINYOUNG, who serves as the president of the Commission for Popular Culture Exchange, expressed his joy at meeting Chinese President XI JINPING, stating that he hopes the Korean and Chinese peoples will grow closer through popular culture.
On November 2, PARK JINYOUNG posted on his social media a photo showing him discussing with President LEE JAE MYUNG and President XI JINPING, writing: “I was truly happy to meet President Xi and exchange a few words with him. I sincerely appreciate his attentive listening and kind words.”
He added: “I hope we can have more exchanges so that our two peoples can grow even closer through popular culture.” PARK JINYOUNG also shared this message in Chinese.
On November 1, during a dinner held in Gyeongju as part of the Korea–China summit, PARK JINYOUNG met with President XI JINPING and shared his views on popular culture.
After news of this meeting became public, some speculated that lifting the “Han Han-ryeong” (ban on the Korean wave) could allow Korean singers to resume concerts in China.
Assemblyman KIM YOUNGBAE, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Reunification Committee, wrote on Facebook: “A new surprise came out of today’s dinner. President LEE JAE MYUNG, President XI JINPING, and PARK JINYOUNG, president of the Commission for Popular Culture Exchange, exchanged a few words. When President Xi responded favorably to the proposal of holding a major concert in Beijing, he called Foreign Minister Wang Yi to give instructions. Perhaps we are witnessing the opening of a door to a true expansion of K-culture, beyond the lifting of the Han Han-ryeong.”
In response, the Commission for Popular Culture Exchange (co-chaired by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism CHOE HWIYOUNG and PARK JINYOUNG, chief producer and creative director of JYP Entertainment) released a statement clarifying that the meeting was simply “general courtesy remarks.”
In an official statement released early on November 2, the Commission stated: “We understand that the conversation between President XI JINPING and PARK JINYOUNG, president of the Commission for Popular Culture Exchange, at this official diplomatic event was an exchange of general courtesy. We consider it premature and unwise to draw excessive interpretations. However, we hope that the cooperative and friendly atmosphere between the two countries, strengthened by this Korea–China summit, will foster even more dynamic cultural exchanges in the future.”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: Instagram PARK JIN YOUNG
