Can Chinese entertainment surpass Korean wave in Southeast Asia?
Union Mall, a major shopping center in Bangkok’s Lat Phrao district, is widely considered one of the city’s most popular hangouts for fans of K-pop and Korean culture, with a nonstop stream of fan-organized events and advertisements celebrating Korean stars. But a visit last Sunday offered a glimpse of something else: the growing influence of Chinese entertainment challenging Korean content’s…
In Bangkok's Lat Phrao district, Union Mall has become a hotspot for K-pop enthusiasts and admirers of Korean culture. However, a recent observation revealed a shift in the entertainment landscape, with Chinese media gaining traction. On a Sunday, visitors to the mall witnessed a phenomenon that signaled the rise of Chinese culture: LED screens spanning six floors displayed images of Yang Yang, one of China's most prominent actors and part of the "Big Four."
To mark his birthday, a dedicated fan community called "Yangmao," or "wool," transformed the mall into a celebratory space. The Thai fan group rented all digital advertising screens and set up a birthday pop-up booth near the escalator. Dressed in T-shirts featuring Yang Yang's likeness, fans snapped photos in front of a life-size cutout and penned birthday messages in Chinese.
The festivities, organized entirely by fans and spanning from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., attracted hundreds of people, demonstrating the growing influence of Chinese entertainment in Southeast Asia.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Can Chinese entertainment surpass Korean wave in Southeast Asia? koreatimes.co.kr
