China Urges South Korea to Uphold One-China Principle

China’s Foreign Ministry has called on the South Korean government to genuinely implement the One-China principle through concrete actions, following a diplomatic dispute over the Gwangju Biennale’s decision to allow Taiwan to participate under the “Taiwan Pavilion” name. The controversy has prompted China’s curation team to withdraw from the 16th edition of the prestigious art exhibition, scheduled to open September 5.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a September 3 press conference that the Gwangju Biennale organizers had “blatantly violated the One-China principle” by allowing Taiwan to participate under a name inconsistent with its status, according to Xinhua News. Guo noted that the 1992 China-South Korea Joint Communique establishing diplomatic relations explicitly recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and respects Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China.

“We hope the South Korean government will honor its political commitments, truly take responsibility, and implement the One-China principle through concrete actions,” Guo said. He also accused Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of “political manipulation” through cultural exchanges, saying their “political schemes will not succeed.”

Background: The Naming Controversy

The dispute centers on the Gwangju Biennale’s Pavilion Project, which has operated since 2018, featuring overseas art and cultural institutions alongside the main exhibition. This year marks the first time both mainland China and Taiwan operate special pavilions simultaneously, with the event running from September 5 to November 15 under the theme “You Must Change Your Life.”

According to Chosun Ilbo, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) signed an exhibition agreement with the Gwangju Biennale Foundation in January 2026. In early August, promotional materials began showing the pavilion under the name “NTMOFA” rather than “Taiwan Pavilion,” prompting protests from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and participating artists who called it “political censorship.”

After weeks of pressure from Taiwanese officials and artists, the Gwangju Biennale Foundation approved the name change back to “Taiwan Pavilion” on August 25. This triggered immediate opposition from China. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Dai Bing visited Gwangju on August 27 to express regret and concern over the naming decision.

Chinese Withdrawal and Diplomatic Escalation

Nineteen Chinese artists and curators had planned to exhibit from September 5 to November 5 at the Ha Jung-woong Art Museum in Gwangju, but installation work stopped on August 28. Yonhap News reported that the Chinese curation team held a press conference in Gwangju on September 3 announcing their withdrawal, with curator Ruan Yuelai stating: “The Biennale organizers used incorrect names for China and Taiwan’s participation, allowing political factors to interfere in the art domain. China has decided to withdraw from the exhibition to express its strongest protest.”

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea issued a strongly worded statement the same day, saying the Gwangju Biennale organizers had “stubbornly insisted on erroneous practices” and “directly damaged the political foundation of China-South Korea relations,” as reported by China.com.cn. The embassy noted that Taiwan’s only legitimate name in the United Nations is “Taiwan, Province of China” and criticized “a few South Korean politicians and social groups” for challenging China’s red lines on Taiwan-related issues.

The embassy statement also highlighted that “since last year, China-South Korea relations have returned to the correct track of improvement and development,” warning that those seeking to disrupt bilateral ties would not succeed.

South Korea’s Response

The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City government issued a formal apology on August 31, reaffirming its respect for the One-China principle. As Aju Daily reported, the city government stated that “the use of the ‘Taiwan Pavilion’ name is merely the autonomous expression of participating artists and does not mean that the Jeonnam-Gwangju city government or the Gwangju Biennale organizers recognize Taiwan as a country.” The city also announced it would investigate the decision-making process and take measures to prevent similar incidents.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Du-sun stated on September 3 that Seoul’s basic position of respecting the One-China principle remains unchanged, as Yonhap News reported. Park characterized the controversy as a private-sector decision in the cultural and artistic domain, saying it was “unrelated to the government’s position on Taiwan-related issues.” He expressed hope that the matter would not affect Korea-China relations.

A Test for Improving Bilateral Ties

The incident comes at a delicate moment for China-South Korea relations. Under President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in 2025, Seoul has sought to improve ties with Beijing, reversing the harder-line stance of his predecessor. China is South Korea’s largest trading partner.

In January 2026, before his state visit to China, Lee stated: “The basic relationship between Korea and China was established on very principled and fundamental positions at the time of diplomatic normalization. The Korean government has always adhered to this position and has never deviated from it. On the Taiwan issue, which is China’s most important concern, Korea will continue to respect the One-China position as always.”

On June 18, South Korean Foreign Ministry official Nam Jin publicly and fully reaffirmed the 1992 Joint Communique language on Taiwan, a move that China’s Foreign Ministry positively evaluated, as Guangming Daily reported.

However, the Gwangju Biennale controversy now tests the durability of this rapprochement. Lianhe Zaobao reported that the Chinese embassy noted the relationship had returned to “the correct track of improvement” but warned that “a few South Korean politicians and social groups” were challenging China’s red lines for their own benefit.

Art, Politics, and the One-China Principle

The controversy highlights the recurring tension between artistic freedom and diplomatic constraints. Taiwan argued that using its name was a matter of self-expression, while China viewed the “Taiwan Pavilion” naming as a violation of its core national interests and an attempt to present Taiwan as a country.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han said on September 2 that Taiwan’s participation in international activities must follow the One-China principle, as Lianhe Zaobao reported. Zhang criticized the DPP authorities for “political manipulation” through cultural exchanges and exhibitions, saying their “separatist provocations” would fail.

The Gwangju Biennale, founded in 1994 to heal the trauma of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, has long positioned itself as a venue for themes of democracy, human rights, and peace. The current dispute underscores how even cultural institutions can become entangled in geopolitical tensions.

What to Watch

As the 16th Gwangju Biennale prepares to open on September 5, several questions remain unanswered. Whether China’s pavilion will participate in any capacity is uncertain, and the Gwangju city government has announced it will investigate the decision-making process surrounding the naming controversy.

The incident also raises broader questions about how South Korea navigates its relationship with China while managing domestic political pressures and cultural autonomy. For Beijing, the message is clear: adherence to the One-China principle is non-negotiable in all spheres, including cultural exchanges. How Seoul responds to this challenge will be closely watched as both countries seek to maintain the momentum of their improving bilateral relationship.