Does Working in China Come With Supporting 'One China'? The Dilemma Facing Taiwanese K-POP Idols

A recent report involving TWICE's Tzuyu has once again raised questions about the political considerations Taiwanese K-POP idols can face when working in China.

Taiwanese media outlet Mirror Media reported Aug. 31 that entertainment manager Chao Shao-wei had been in contact with Tzuyu's family about the possibility of her working in China. According to the report, Tzuyu could receive support for appearances on major Chinese television networks and large-scale concerts if she publicly supported the "One China" principle or stated that "Taiwanese people are Chinese."

No agreement has been reached. Chao said discussions had been put on hold while Tzuyu and JYP Entertainment are in talks over a possible contract renewal. He also denied that his contact with Tzuyu's family had any political purpose.

The report has drawn particular attention because Tzuyu faced a similar controversy a decade ago.

In 2015, Tzuyu, who is from Taiwan, appeared with a Taiwanese flag during an online broadcast for MBC's "My Little Television." The moment led to accusations in China that she supported Taiwanese independence. The backlash soon extended beyond Tzuyu, affecting scheduled activities involving other JYP artists in China.

At 16, Tzuyu released an apology video in January 2016 in which she said that "there is only one China." JYP founder and chief creative officer J.Y. Park also issued an apology and announced that Tzuyu's activities in China would be suspended.

The apology did not lead to a quick return to the Chinese market. Later that year, restrictions on Korean entertainment intensified amid tensions between South Korea and China over Seoul's deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system. The restrictions, commonly known in Korea as the "Korean Wave ban," made concerts, television appearances and other promotional activities by Korean acts in China increasingly difficult.

TWICE instead expanded elsewhere, building its presence in Japan, North America and other international markets. It would be years before the group returned for an official event in mainland China.

TWICE held a fan signing event in Shanghai in February 2025, marking its first official schedule in mainland China in roughly nine years. The group has since expanded its activities in the broader Chinese-speaking market, including shows in Hong Kong and Macao, though regular large-scale promotions in mainland China have yet to fully resume.

What makes the latest report notable is how the situation has changed over the past decade. Ten years ago, Tzuyu was pushed to state her position after controversy had already erupted. This time, according to the report, support for "One China" was raised as a condition for expanding her activities in China, with access to major entertainment opportunities reportedly offered in return.

That does not mean every Taiwanese K-POP idol faces the same situation.

WayV's Yangyang, who is Taiwanese, has remained active in China as part of a group built with the Chinese market at the center of its activities. WayV has held concerts and appeared at music festivals across the country.

Other Taiwanese idols have maintained a more limited presence in mainland China. i-dle's Shuhua has largely focused on group activities in Korea and overseas, along with activities in Taiwan, while &TEAM's Nicholas works primarily with the Japan-based group and has had relatively few schedules in mainland China.

There have also been cases in which Taiwanese K-POP stars who pursued careers in China faced scrutiny over how they described their identity. Former Wanna One member Lai Kuan-lin drew criticism in Taiwan after referring to himself as being from "Taiwan, China" and posting messages tied to China's National Day while working in the country.

The issue is drawing renewed attention as China's restrictions on Korean entertainment show signs of easing. After years of limited access, Korean artists have gradually returned for fan events and other activities, fueling expectations that the Chinese market could open further.

The push to return to China is not only about the size or commercial value of the market. Chinese fans have continued to follow K-POP artists despite years of limited opportunities to see them in person, creating demand for concerts, fan meetings and other local events. For artists, returning to China can also mean reconnecting directly with a fanbase they have had few chances to meet.

But that opening may not look the same for every K-POP artist. For Taiwanese idols, cross-strait politics remain a potential hurdle to working in China. A decade after Tzuyu addressed the "One China" issue as a teenager, the same question has resurfaced as she considers the next stage of her career.