BEIJING, Nov. 2 -- China may be preparing to ease restrictions on Korean pop culture, a South Korean lawmaker said yesterday, citing a positive response from Chinese President Xi Jinping to a proposal for a large-scale K-pop concert in Beijing.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Representative Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea said the exchange took place during a banquet at the Korea-China summit held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting.

"There has been a surprise development from tonight's banquet," Kim wrote on social media, alongside a photo of the summit.

"President Lee Jae-myung, President Xi and Presidential Committee on Popular Culture Exchange leader Park Jin-young briefly spok...