South Korea-based pop stars and actors featuring in Chinese dramas and TV series are likely to be the first causalities of the growing tension in the region in the wake of Seoul's decision to permit the US to deploy its Terminal High Altitude Aerial Defense (THAAD) missile system to the Korean pPeninsula, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

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According to SCMP, officials working in a TV station in Guangdong province have received a verbal order from the national media watchdog that approvals would not be granted to new TV series featuring South Korean pop stars in the near future.

"They told us to postpone any plans for new programs that involve South Korean stars or copyright for South Korean TV shows," one source from the Guangdong TV station said. "They said we would not get approval, even if we made such plans."                 

Another industry veteran involved in the distribution of South Korean dramas confirmed that it is now becoming "almost impossible" to secure approval from regulators for movies and TV series with a K-Pop star playing a lead role.

Chinese website Sina.com.cn cited several anonymous sources claiming that latest decision is aimed at controlling the number of TV series featuring K-pop stars, rather than to completely ban them.

K-Pop stars and their dramas have been immensely popular across China since the early 1990s.

China Upset over Deployment of THAAD in Korean Peninsula   

Last month, South Korea and U.S gave a go-ahead to a long-impending decision to deploy the THAAD missile system to the Korean Peninsula. Seoul has stated that the deployment of advanced missile defense system is meant to counter any possible missile threat from North Korea.

However, the move has not gone too well with China. The Chinese government has expressed concerns that the THAAD missile system could be used to keep track of its military capabilities and compromise its national security.      

TagsTHAAD Missile, Kpop Stars China, South Korean Serial and Drama in China, South Korea and China