K-poppers should “do an Oasis”

In retaliation for Seoul’s decision to deploy America’s Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system (to protect itself against North Korean ballistic provocations), Beijing is apparently calling off mainland Chinese appearances by wildly popular South Korean actors and singers.

A similar fate befell English rockers Oasis in 2009 when officials revoked the band’s Beijing and Shanghai performance licenses after having come across a video of chief songwriter Noel Gallagher playing at a 1997 Free Tibet concert. Oasis did the most Oasis thing imaginable (the since broken up band’s once-upon-a-time rowdy reputation often preceded itself) by filling the canceled Beijing date with its first-ever Taiwan gig.

Gallagher’s Korean counterparts should follow suit, signaling to Beijing that its petty retaliations have consequences, by visiting Taiwan tout de suite to greet often overlooked fans there.

Taiwan’s preference for Japanese popular culture over its Korean variant’s been softening and I’m sure local authorities would be more than happy to highlight the obvious contrasts with the less accepting mainland. Namely, whatever your politics, or reasonable measures your own freely elected government takes to defend itself, you’re always welcome in Taiwan.

Have a nice trip!

Sean King
Senior vice president, Park Strategies, New York