Why was the movie "Love Letter" such a big hit in Korea?

NHK's documentary program "Another Stories: Crossroads of Destiny" (NHK BS) will air a segment titled "The Impact of the Film 'Love Letter', Taking Korea by Storm!" from 9:00 PM on January 28th. The Japanese film "Love Letter," released in 1995, caused a huge stir when it was released in theaters in Korea in 1999, becoming a social phenomenon. Why did it become such a big hit in Korea?

"Love Letter" is a film starring actress and singer Miho Nakayama, who passed away in December 2024. It is director Shunji Iwai's feature film debut and is a pure love story woven by Nakayama and Etsushi Toyokawa.

Due to South Korea's (then) President Kim Dae-jung's policy of opening up to Japanese pop culture, the film became a huge hit when it was released in theaters in South Korea in 1999. Nakayama's line, "How are you? I'm fine," became a widely known catchphrase in South Korea, and the film remains a beloved winter staple.

Why has it been loved by so many people in Korea? We look into the background of its success through testimonies from those involved.