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Lee Joon-gi’s agency denies THAAD revenge rumors, star receives Chinese visa

August 5, 2016

SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) — South Korean actor Lee Joon-gi’s agency on Friday denied snowballing rumors and reports that the celebrity was shut out of China because of the escalating political tension between the two countries.

Lee, who has a large following in China, is scheduled to visit four Chinese cities from Sunday to Wednesday on a promotional tour for his latest film “Never Said Goodbye,” set to open there later this month.

But media reports recently emerged that the country denied his visa, possibly as part of retaliation against the South Korean television and film industries for the recent South Korea-U.S. decision to place a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on Korean soil.

“This is not true,” an official from Namoo Actors, the management agency for the 34-year-old actor, told Yonhap News Agency. “Lee was properly issued the Chinese visa and will be off to China as planned.”

South Korean star actor Lee Joon-gi attends "Seoul Drama Awards 2015" held in western Seoul on Sept. 10, 2015.

South Korean star actor Lee Joon-gi attends “Seoul Drama Awards 2015″ held in western Seoul on Sept. 10, 2015.

In the Chinese film, Lee plays a South Korean man who stands by his lover against all odds. Filmed in Shanghai and Sicily, Italy, the romance has drawn spotlight in South Korea and China.