Opinion | For Chinese culture to be a global hit, Beijing has to learn from Japan’s J-pop and South Korea’s hallyu

Entertainment is soft power. The global popularity of South Korean Netflix show Squid Game has sparked hot debate in the mainland Chinese online community on why wealthy and resourceful China has yet to produce anything as internationally successful.

But no wonder. For decades, China has pursued business and economic success while neglecting the global potential of its entertainment sector, which remains strictly regulated.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Japan and South Korea have achieved enormous success with their entertainment exports, including to mainland China. Even Hong Kong popular culture had its heyday, influencing young Chinese on the mainland far more than the reverse. Apart from some Chinese diaspora groups, mainland art productions have had little penetration in global, non-ethnic audiences.

Until recently, the global growth of China’s entertainment industry was limited, intentionally or otherwise, by its former top media watchdog, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, which prioritised art serving socialist values. This politicised the growth of both the art and entertainment sectors, raising sensitivities that complicate global acceptance.