Demand for K-pop concerts in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan has been surging this year, possibly fueled by China’s long-standing restrictions on Hallyu, or the Korean Wave.

According to a major K-pop agency official Wednesday, concert inquiries from promoters in Hong Kong and Taiwan have risen noticeably from last year.

“There isn’t an official breakdown, but we are receiving significantly more event requests from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao,” the official said. “Since large-scale promotions in mainland China remain difficult due to the Hallyu ban, demand has naturally grown in nearby Chinese-speaking regions.”

China has maintained a de facto ban on Korean entertainment and cultural products since 2016, following Seoul’s decision to deploy a US antimissile battery on the Korean Peninsula.

While Taiwan is not directly influenced by China’s policy, the K-pop industry typically includes it in the category of the Chinese-speaking region.

One of the most anticipated performances set to take place is girl group NJZ, better known as NewJeans, at ComplexCon Hong Kong later this month. The event will be the group’s first performance with a new name, and will feature a new song, amid the group’s ongoing contractual dispute with Ador, a Hybe subsidiary.

Several other major K-pop acts are also set to perform in Chinese-speaking regions.

NCT 127 will bring its “Neo City – The Moment” tour to Taipei’s National Taiwan Sport University Sports Center on March 22 and 23, Macao’s Broadway Theatre April 5 and 6 and Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo on May 3.

GFriend’s “Season of Memories” tour includes stops at Kaohsiung Music Center in Taiwan on March 22 and 23, Taipei Music Center March 29 and 30 and AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong on March 14.

Meanwhile, Kyuhyun stopped at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong for his “10th Anniversary Asia Tour (Colors)” on Jan. 25, followed by the Taipei International Convention Center on Feb. 22 and 23. The Super Junior singer is due to perform at the Londoner Arena in Macao on March 22.

While K-pop agencies cautiously view the renewed interest in the events as a sign of strong demand in Chinese speaking markets, many industry insiders remain doubtful China will open up to K-pop, saying it is still too early to say that the ban affecting mainland China could be lifted anytime soon.

Music critic Cha Woo-jin cautioned against overinterpreting the trend, noting that China’s entertainment market operates under unique political and economic dynamics.

“The increase in the number of concerts in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan doesn’t necessarily reflect a shift in China’s stance on Hallyu,” Cha said Wednesday. “Predicting whether the ban will be lifted is nearly impossible, as the Chinese market does not operate purely based on demand. Until the government makes an official statement, it remains a 50-50 scenario.”

Cha also warned against using Hong Kong and Macao as indicators of broader policy changes in mainland China.

“People assume that if demand is rising in Hong Kong, it means China will open up, but that’s an oversimplification,” he said. “Hong Kong and Macao operate under different systems. The real signal would come from Beijing or Hangzhou, not these special administrative regions. Even if the Hallyu ban were lifted, there are still many political complexities at play.”

Last year, no K-pop concerts were approved in the mainland of China, including Beijing, Shanghai or Hangzou.

Though never officially acknowledged, restrictions in 2016 led to a halt of K-pop concerts, the removal of Korean content from Chinese streaming platforms and limited collaborations between Korean and Chinese artists.

jaaykim@heraldcorp.com