Krystal Jung’s visit to China sparks talks on loosening up of unofficial cultural ban

BEIJING: News that K-pop star Krystal Jung attended a charity event in Yunnan Province has sparked online speculations that China’s unofficial ban on South Korean entertainers is loosening up.

Pictures posted online showcase Jung interacting with children at the Youngchang and Guansuo Central primary schools.

The activity was part of a charity project co-sponsored by institutions including the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development and the Seoul-based CJ Group. Titled CJ Dream and Share Classroom, the project aims to improve learning conditions for Chinese school children, according to the post from the Yunan Youth League.

A news article on the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development website also reported on a meeting between the heads of the foundation and the CJ Group’s China office in early May, during which the two “agreed to carry out more charitable activities together.”

Jung’s visit might be “a sign that the ban is loosening up,” wrote entertainment blogger Tiaotiao Talks Entertainment on Baidu’s aggregator website Baijiahao. “It may be a sign that we can have more chances to see her in the future,” wrote one netizen.

Excited about their idol’s Yunnan visit, Jung’s Chinese fans also passionately discussed recent news concerning the longawaited China-South Korea coproduction starring Jung and Chinese star Zhang Yixing.