S. Korea's ambassador to China says hallyu stars on billboards a 'small but positive signal'

South Korea's Ambassador to China No Jae-heon said Tuesday that Seoul is working to draw Beijing into a constructive role on the Korean Peninsula, urging Pyongyang to halt provocations and return to dialogue and negotiations.

No made the remarks at a national audit of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, held at the South Korean Embassy in Beijing. He said the embassy is closely monitoring developments related to the Korean Peninsula situation and China-North Korea relations while strengthening communication with the Chinese side.

"We are actively conveying our government's position on peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization to the Chinese side, and urging China to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula," No said.

On the state of South Korea-China relations, No said the two countries had achieved a "full restoration" of ties following Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to South Korea last November and President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to China in January. He added that high-level exchanges had been further energized by former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok — now leader of the Democratic Party of Korea — visiting China in June, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korea in August.

"Parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries has also grown more active, with South Korean ruling and opposition party delegations visiting China 15 times this year," No said.

Turning to cultural exchanges agreed upon by the two countries' leaders, No cited the joint South Korea-China opera production of "Rigoletto," performed in Daegu in April and in Beijing in September, and noted that hallyu star G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-yong) had recently appeared on large outdoor billboards in major Chinese cities. "These are small but positive signals," he said. No also urged the National Assembly to support projects marking next year's 35th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic relations and to increase the budget and staffing of the embassy in Beijing.

No said that with a visa-free entry program for Chinese group tourists in operation, about 5.02 million Chinese tourists visited South Korea between January and August this year, up 27.4 percent from the same period last year. Visa applications received by eight South Korean visa centers in China rose 43 percent to about 1.24 million during the same period.