Director Bong Joon-ho's 'Mickey 17' Premieres in China - Expectations for 'Hallyu Ban' Easing

Director Bong Joon-ho's film Mickey 17 was released nationwide in China on March 7.

According to local media and the Chinese cultural industry, Mickey 17 (Chinese title: Bianhao 17) officially began screening in movie theaters across China on this day. A preview was held in Beijing on March 2, and advance screenings were also conducted in seven cities in China.

Mickey 17 stars Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo, both from English-speaking countries, and is categorized as a Hollywood movie, with Warner Brothers handling its distribution. However, because it is directed by Bong Joon-ho, the same director of the Oscar-winning Parasite, which is well-known in China, there are cautious speculations that this could be a step toward easing China's unofficial Hallyu Ban (limited Korean content) that has been in place since around 2016.

In China, foreign movie imports are managed by the state-owned China Film Group Corporation under the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, meaning approval from the central government is essential. Some are predicting that China may move toward reopening cultural exchanges with South Korea in the first half of the year, possibly in connection with President Xi Jinping's planned visit to South Korea around late October or early November during the APEC summit. This would explain why a Korean director's film, even though it is a Hollywood production, is being approved for screening in China after several years.

Previously, President Xi Jinping met with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik in Harbin on February 7 and stated that he was seriously considering attending the APEC summit, mentioning that "cultural exchange is an attractive part of bilateral relations and we must avoid any issues arising during this process."

While Chinese media outlets have reported on the release of Mickey 17, most have avoided mentioning the word "Korea." However, Baidu's encyclopedia entry for Mickey 17 describes the film as a "2025 science fiction film produced by Korean director Bong Joon-ho," which has drawn attention.

There are still views that it is uncertain whether Chinese authorities will officially accept a "pure Korean film" instead of a Hollywood film.

Although not in the film industry, local Chinese governments granted permits for performances by the Korean indie singer-songwriter The Black Skirt (American nationality, Korean name: Jo Hyuil) at the end of last year. However, there have been no reports of performances by Korean nationals yet.

Diplomatic sources say, "There is talk that the ban on Korean content will first be lifted in the film industry rather than in large outdoor performances. There is hope that film openings could proceed more quickly, given the potential for smaller indoor events," adding that "with discussions about Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea, there is an expectation for change in the first half of the year."

China has been applying the Hallyu Ban informally since around 2016 in response to South Korea's deployment of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system. However, China maintains that it has never officially implemented such a ban, and it is unlikely to make any official announcements regarding its lifting.

By Beijing Reporter Jeong Seong-jo