K-pop Group Epex Postpones Historic Concert in China Amid Hopes of Thaw in THAAD Dispute

Anticipation around K-pop’s comeback in Mainland China took a hit after C9 Entertainment announced the postponement of boy group Epex’s upcoming concert in Fuzhou. The group was scheduled to perform their solo show, Youth Deficiency in Fuzhou, on May 31 at the Maku X CH8 Livehouse.

In an official statement shared via C9 Entertainment’s social media on May 9, the agency said, “Due to local circumstances, Epex’s concert originally scheduled for May 31 in Fuzhou has unfortunately been postponed.” They added, “We are currently discussing updates regarding the date and venue. Further details will be announced soon.”

The exact reason for the delay has not been clarified, fostering speculation within the industry. Known for their high energy performances and all-Korean lineup, Epex received a significant online response in China, even ranking No. 7 on the entertainment category of local platform Weibo.

This was anticipated as the first official concert by a full K-pop group in China in nine years, following the informal cultural freeze known as the Hanhanryeong — a reaction to South Korea’s deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) in 2016. That geopolitical move led to tightened restrictions on Korean content including music, drama, and film in China.

However, signs of a thaw began to appear recently. Korean-American singer-songwriter The Black Skirt held a concert in China late last year, followed by Korean hip-hop trio Homies and singer-actor Kim Jae-joong, who both met fans on Chinese stages earlier this year, raising hopes of a broader reopening for K-pop artists.

Despite the optimism, the abrupt postponement of Epex’s concert has prompted reconsideration. Industry insiders are questioning whether expectations of a full cultural reopening were premature, with some speculating that shifting public sentiment and media scrutiny in China may have impacted the decision.