K-pop and anime dominate East Asian box offices

Amid tensions over Seoul’s military alliance with the United States and other issues, G-Dragon featured in eight McDonald’s products across more than 8,000 outlets in mainland China.

The Japanese animated film Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island dominated South Korea’s box office, generating 42.7 per cent of ticket revenue and more than 1.8 million admissions in the first three weeks of its screening.

These trends are particularly evident in Japan and South Korea, where cultural products are creating openings beyond traditional diplomacy.