How diplomacy matters to cultural production: A case study of China’s Korean limitation order and Korean television

This study examines the significance of diplomacy in cultural production, with a focus on South Korean (hereafter Korean) television during China’s ban on Korean cultural imports, known as the Korean Limitation Order. Based on interviews with 35 television producers, staff from television networks and domestic streaming platforms, investors and a policy analyst, the study finds that Beijing’s import ban became a blow to Korean television, leading to the suspension of dozens of projects in production. Such a measure not only caused stakeholders in the country’s television industry to discredit China but also to recognize the political fragility of foreign markets that are susceptible to diplomatic ties and political differences. The findings, combined with the region’s strong nationalist sentiments—often stimulated by state authorities—challenge the myth of the globalization of television production and reaffirm that diplomacy and politics play a significant role in television production.