Our verdict
PARTLY
Big online fandom, limited mainstream presence
Popularity score
68/100
The short answer
Partly. K-pop has a large, active fan base in China, especially among young women in big cities, and fans buy albums in huge volumes. But Korean acts have had few concerts, TV appearances or brand campaigns in mainland China since 2016, so domestic C-pop and idol shows dominate the mainstream.
Scores and rankings are illustrative until our data pipeline is live. How we score
| Verdict | Partly (illustrative score 68/100) |
|---|---|
| Who listens | Gen Z, tier-1 cities |
| Where | Weibo super-topics, QQ Music, Bilibili |
| Mainstream barrier | Few concerts and TV slots since 2016 |
How we know
4 signals · IllustrativeOnline fandom
Super-topics for the biggest groups rank among Weibo’s largest fan communities. [1]
STRONGAlbum buying
Chinese fan clubs are among the largest bulk buyers of K-pop albums.
STRONGConcerts and TV
Korean acts have had very few mainland concerts or broadcast slots since 2016. [1]
WEAKWhy isn’t K-pop mainstream in China?
After 2016, Korean entertainment largely disappeared from mainland TV and concert stages. Fans moved online, and domestic idol shows filled the gap.
Which K-pop groups are popular in China?
Large groups with Chinese members or long histories, such as BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO and SEVENTEEN, have the biggest fandoms.
Questions readers ask
Can K-pop groups perform in China?
Rarely at time of writing, though there are periodic signs of easing.
Is C-pop more popular than K-pop in China?
Yes, domestic artists dominate charts and streaming.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Korean Wave in China · accessed 19 Oct 2026
- Google Trends, “is kpop popular in china” · accessed 19 Oct 2026
Update log. 19 October 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 17 January 2027. Suggest a correction