Second average Outlet BNT News on March 29, in a rare and surprising move, the Global newspaper affiliated by the Chinese state gave great praise to the drama Kk-drama Netflix “When life gives you mandarins” (Korean title: I was deceived), triggering speculations on a possible change in China’s longtime ban on pop culture, known as Hallyu ban.
The drama, with the global icons of K-Pop and K-Drama Iu and Park Bo Gum, was presented in the foreground in the 27 March edition of Global Times as a top entertainment article, with the title: “A new success in dramas from the Korean period.” The publication highlighted the strong national and international reception of the show, noting the praise he received from his version of Netflix on March 7th
What makes this article worthy noteworthy is that global times are widely seen as a strategic spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party in foreign communications. The generally critical tone of the outlet against the Korean content has been part of a wider cultural freezing between South Korea and China since 2016, when Thaad missile sides have triggered the ban on Hallyu, limiting the import of Korean content to China.
Despite the fact that Netflix is ​​not available in China and Chinese citizens cannot legally stream the show, Global Times has mentioned the assessments of the spectators of Douban, a large Chinese review platform, which says that this “When life gives you mandarins” received a high score of 9.4. The document also noticed it as one of the most voted Korean dramas in recent years also calling it a “new milestone” for the narration of the Korean period.
In addition, this praise arrives at a time when the diplomatic signs between China and South Korea suggest heating relations. On March 21, during a meeting in Japan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would have sent interest to restore cultural exchanges with the South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul. This followed other positive developments, including the Chinese release of the film supported by Hollywood by Bong Joon-Ho “Mickey 17”.
However, observers notice it “Mickey 17” It was an American production, despite being directed by a Korean director. On the contrary, “When life gives you mandarins” It is completely produced, performed and written in Korea, marking a more direct and culturally significant approval.
