South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Feb. 7, marking Xi’s first meeting with a senior South Korean official since Seoul’s political turmoil, which erupted last December after the declaration of martial law and an impeachment crisis.
During the meeting, Woo extended an invitation for Xi to visit South Korea in October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Xi noted that attending the APEC summit is customary for the Chinese president and said Beijing was seriously considering his participation. At last year’s APEC summit in Lima, Peru, Xi had only expressed gratitude when South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol made a similar request. If Xi attends this year’s summit, it would mark his first visit to South Korea in 11 years, following his trip in July 2014 during the Park Geun-hye administration.
The meeting, held at the Taiyangdao Hotel in Harbin, lasted 42 minutes, significantly exceeding the originally scheduled 15 minutes. Woo arrived in China on Feb. 5 at the invitation of Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and China’s third-ranking official. His five-day visit was scheduled to coincide with the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025.
During their talks, Woo raised concerns over China’s restrictions on South Korean cultural exports, often referred to as “hallyu restrictions” (Korean Wave). The measures were introduced in response to South Korea’s 2017 deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. While China has never officially acknowledged the restrictions, they have effectively blocked South Korean films, dramas, and games from entering the Chinese market. Woo pointed out that while South Korean audiences can freely access Chinese cultural content, South Korean entertainment remains less accessible in China. “Cultural openness is crucial in fostering communication and goodwill among young people in both countries,” he said. In response, Xi acknowledged the importance of cultural exchange in bilateral relations, calling it a key element of diplomacy that should not be hindered by unnecessary complications, according to Woo’s delegation.
Xi’s remarks on cultural cooperation were seen as notable, as China has repeatedly tightened and relaxed restrictions on South Korean content since 2017 depending on the state of bilateral relations. His comments have fueled speculation that Beijing may soon ease its restrictions, potentially reopening the Chinese market to South Korean dramas, games, and K-pop concerts. Analysts view China’s position as an attempt to improve ties with Seoul amid concerns over strengthening U.S.-South Korea-Japan cooperation, particularly as former U.S. President Donald Trump remains a strong contender for a second term.
Regarding South Korea’s political turmoil, Xi avoided direct comment, calling it an internal matter and expressing confidence in South Koreans’ ability to resolve it. Woo, a former member of the main opposition Democratic Party, currently serves as the speaker of the 22nd National Assembly.
