Imported Korean programs tend to dramatically depict the long and winding road to true love, says author Tashiro. She said Japanese fans fall for the drama's intricate plot and exaggerated emotional displays by its characters.
In response to the popularity of the TV series, Japan's second-largest travel agency Kinki Nippon Tourist Co organized a special Winter Sonata Tour to South Korea, in October, and more than 200 Japanese women participated.
The nation's largest travel agency JTB Corp also organized a special visit to Seoul to meet Won Bin, a Korean actor who became popular in Japan after last year's TV drama Friends.
The TV drama, jointly produced by Japanese and South Korean TV networks that aired in both countries in February, last year, was a love story about a South Korean man and a Japanese woman who met in Hong Kong. They attempt to carry out a long-distance relationship from each country.
The JTB's tour to South Korea in September to celebrate the birthday of the popular Korean actor drew 400 Japanese women to participate in the tour.
RSS