To clarify, there is no official law banning J-Pop in Korea. However, it is widely understood as an unwritten, taboo rule within the broadcasting industry—likely out of consideration for anti-Japanese sentiment among some segments of the public. While you might occasionally hear J-Pop on paid cable channels, it remains rare, and mainstream music shows like Music Bank strictly exclude it.
Meanwhile, in Japan, K-Pop idols are featured frequently on music and variety shows. While there is a genuine demand for K-Pop in Japan, it is also a fact that Japan significantly contributes to the growth and revenue of K-Pop agencies. Some K-Pop groups even prioritize their promotions in Japan over Korea immediately after their debut.
Recently, the Japanese idol group CUTIE STREET made a rare appearance on Mnet (a Korean cable channel), and their performance garnered views that rivaled those of top K-Pop groups. Their songs are also ranking high in Korean karaoke charts.
As a Japanese person, I felt proud to see a J-Pop group being recognized in Korea. It’s a similar feeling to how we feel watching Shohei Ohtani thrive in the MLB—a sense of pride in seeing our own succeed on the global stage.
However, upon calmer reflection, I realized that the pride I felt for CUTIE STREET also stems from a certain insensitivity on my part—that I have simply accepted this lopsided state of affairs in Japan-Korea music relations as “the way things are,” without questioning why it is considered normal.
This leads me to a question for you all: In an era where cultural exchange between Japan and Korea is at an all-time high and political relations are stable, should this “unilateral regulation” be reconsidered? For instance, if the argument were raised that Japan should impose similar restrictions based on the principle of “reciprocity,” what kind of counterarguments or perspectives would you have?
Ideally, I hope the Korean broadcasting industry will realize that this unfair and distorted regulation is outdated and choose to lift the ban on their own. But realistically, do you think such a change is possible? How do you view the current situation?
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