ISTANBUL – In a surprising turn of events amid thawing diplomatic relations, the popular South Korean messaging app KakaoTalk has reportedly become accessible in mainland China without the need for a virtual private network (VPN), marking the first time in 11 years that users there can freely connect to the service. The development, first reported by the Seoul-based Chosun Daily on Wednesday, coincides with a landmark summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.
KakaoTalk, which boasts over 50 million monthly active users globally and is a staple for communication in South Korea, was abruptly blocked by Chinese authorities in July 2014 as part of a broader crackdown on foreign messaging apps suspected of facilitating the spread of "terrorism-related information." According to statements from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology at the time, apps like KakaoTalk and Japan's Line were targeted because they were allegedly used by extremist groups to coordinate attacks and disseminate bomb-making instructions. The block extended to features such as group chats, photo sharing, and games, leaving Chinese users – including the estimated 20 million who had signed up prior to the ban – reliant on VPNs or domestic alternatives like WeChat to access the service. New registrations from China were also prohibited, effectively isolating the app from one of the world's largest digital markets.
The sudden restoration of access, reported on November 5, 2025, allows users to send text messages, images, and videos seamlessly, according to tests conducted by Chosun Daily journalists and corroborated by South Korean embassy officials in Beijing. However, Kakao Corp, the app's parent company, emphasized that it has received no official notification from Chinese regulators regarding a permanent lift of the ban. "We are monitoring the situation closely and remain committed to user privacy and security," a Kakao spokesperson told reporters in Seoul. Experts caution that the change could be temporary, potentially tied to technical adjustments rather than a policy shift, echoing a brief partial unblocking in 2014 that was later reversed. Cybersecurity analysts from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto noted that similar disruptions in the past were enforced via DNS tampering and HTTP filtering by China's Great Firewall, mechanisms that appear to have been relaxed – at least momentarily – in this instance.
This unexpected digital thaw arrives on the heels of Xi's first state visit to South Korea in over a decade, which concluded on November 1, 2025. The trip, Xi's second to the peninsula since assuming power in 2012 (his first being to North Korea in 2019), was framed by Beijing as an opportunity to "open a new chapter" in bilateral relations based on mutual respect and economic synergy. Xi arrived in Busan on October 30 for the APEC summit, where he held preliminary talks with U.S. President Donald Trump before the American leader departed early, leaving Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to represent Washington. The centerpiece of Xi's itinerary was a Saturday summit with Lee in the ancient city of Gyeongju, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Silla Dynasty tombs, symbolizing a nod to historical cultural ties between the two nations.
The leaders' discussions spanned a spectrum of pressing issues, from regional security to climate cooperation. Lee, who assumed office in early 2025 following a narrow electoral victory, urged Xi to leverage China's influence over Pyongyang to revive stalled denuclearization talks on the Korean Peninsula. "As North Korea's closest ally, China's role in facilitating dialogue is indispensable," Lee stated during the closed-door session, according to a readout from Seoul's Blue House. Xi responded affirmatively, pledging to support "peaceful stability" while emphasizing that any resolution must respect all parties' core interests. The summit also addressed the lingering fallout from the 2017 deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea, which prompted Beijing to impose informal economic sanctions on Seoul, costing South Korean firms billions in lost exports. Ties hit a nadir that year, with bilateral trade dipping amid boycotts of Korean cosmetics, K-pop, and tourism. Yet, recent gestures – including mutual visa-free policies for tourists extended through 2026 – signal a cautious rapprochement.
A lighter moment during the summit provided a rare glimpse of levity between the two leaders. As Xi presented Lee with two Xiaomi smartphones – high-end models featuring Korean-manufactured OLED screens from Samsung Display – and a set of traditional Chinese calligraphy brushes, Lee quipped, "Is the line secure?" upon inspecting the device. The room erupted in laughter, and after a brief translation, Xi shot back with a grin: "You can check if there is a backdoor." The exchange, captured by state media, underscored the dual symbolism of the gift: a showcase of China's rising tech prowess intertwined with calls for deeper supply-chain collaboration, as Xiaomi sources key components from South Korean suppliers. Observers interpreted it as a subtle pitch for joint ventures in semiconductors and AI, sectors where Seoul and Beijing are increasingly interdependent despite U.S. export controls.
The summit yielded tangible outcomes, including seven bilateral agreements signed on November 1. These encompassed a renewed won-yuan currency swap line valued at 56 trillion won ($40 billion), aimed at stabilizing financial flows amid global volatility; memorandums on combating cybercrime; and frameworks for cooperation in biopharmaceuticals, green energy, and elderly care – addressing shared demographic challenges as both nations grapple with aging populations. APEC itself concluded with the adoption of the "Gyeongju Declaration," which for the first time highlighted cultural and creative industries – including digital content like K-dramas and apps – as drivers of inclusive growth, a provision South Korean officials hailed as a veiled boost to their entertainment sector, still smarting from China's 2016-2017 "Hallyu ban."
Economically, the timing could not be more opportune. China-South Korea trade, which formally began with diplomatic normalization in August 1992, reached a record $328.08 billion in 2024, with China remaining Seoul's top trading partner for the 21st consecutive year. Exports from South Korea to China, dominated by semiconductors and petrochemicals, totaled $146.23 billion last year, though Seoul posted an $18 billion trade deficit due to surging imports of machinery and consumer goods. The relationship peaked in 2014 during Xi's previous visit to Seoul under then-President Park Geun-hye, when free trade agreement negotiations were accelerating and cultural exchanges flourished. That era's warmth contrasted sharply with the post-THAAD chill, but 2025's engagements suggest a pivot. South Korean conglomerates like Samsung and Hyundai, which derive 20-30% of revenues from China, stand to benefit from eased digital barriers, potentially extending to platforms like KakaoTalk.
Yet, challenges persist. While the app's accessibility may symbolize goodwill, it remains unclear if this is a deliberate concession or a glitch in China's censorship apparatus. Activists worry that any unblocking could come with strings, such as enhanced data localization requirements under Beijing's cybersecurity laws. Moreover, broader U.S.-China frictions – exacerbated by Trump's tariff truce at APEC – place Seoul in a delicate balancing act, as Lee seeks to diversify away from overreliance on Beijing without alienating Washington.
As the dust settles from Gyeongju, analysts view the KakaoTalk episode as a microcosm of evolving Sino-Korean dynamics: a blend of pragmatic economics, cautious diplomacy, and the unpredictable undercurrents of technology and security. For everyday users in China and South Korea, it offers a small but tangible reconnection in an otherwise fraught landscape. Whether this marks the start of a sustained digital detente or a fleeting anomaly will depend on follow-through from both capitals.
