EXO Lay's Sudden Fan Meeting Absence Sparks Political Speculation

EXO member Lay (Zhang Yixing) recently caused a stir by suddenly withdrawing from an EXO fan meeting, 'EXO'verse', scheduled for December 14th at Incheon Inspire Arena. This unexpected absence occurred despite his participation in rehearsals until the day before the event, leading to significant disappointment among fans and confusion for his agency, SM Entertainment. The sudden departure has sparked widespread speculation regarding its underlying causes.

Lay reportedly received a call from Chinese contacts after rehearsals on December 13th, subsequently informed SM of his inability to attend, and departed for China early on December 14th. SM Entertainment issued an urgent notice on Weverse, citing "unavoidable circumstances" for his absence and offering full refunds without fees for ticket cancellations. Bloggers and industry observers suggest that Lay's actions might be influenced by China's Hallyu ban (限韓令) and even a "Hanil-ryeong" (限日令), which restricts Chinese artists' activities in Korea and Japan. Lay is known for his active involvement with the Chinese Communist Party, having previously conducted a CCP history quiz for fans during a birthday live stream in 2021, and publicly supported political anniversaries.

Local bloggers express that Lay's decision to leave without a clear explanation, despite knowing the impact on fans, suggests significant external pressure. They analyze that his strong ties to the Chinese Communist Party make him susceptible to directives from Chinese authorities, especially during sensitive periods in Korea-China and Korea-Japan relations. The situation left fans shocked and SM Entertainment unable to provide details beyond "personal reasons," highlighting the complex political risks that can affect K-Pop artists with Chinese affiliations.