The drama "Love Rain" did not get the best ratings when it was shown in Korea but later achieved top ratings when it aired on Japanese television.
One reason for its Japanese popularity may be that some drama scenes were shot in Hokkaido. Another reason may be its stars, singer-actor Jang Geun Suk and Girls Generation's Im Yoona.
Girls Generation has a big fan base in Japan. They are among the top-ranking kpop groups on Japan's Oricon charts.
And Japan has fallen in love with singer and actor Jang Geun Suk. His dramas "You're Beautiful" and "Mary Stayed Out All Night" were successful there and his records sell well. The so-called "Prince of Asia," recently topped the Japanese album charts with his second album "Nature Boy," which was produced in a Japanese studio.
The actor speaks Japanese so well that he was able to do a live broadcast on the radio show "Jang Geun Suk's all-night Nippon Gold."
His Japanese fans respond positively to anything he has to offer. He released a Japanese cookbook, "Jang Geun Suk's Love Recipe," with 20 of his favorite recipes. He even opened the Asia Prince Shop in Tokyo. Fans can go there to buy his merchandise.
If you have not yet seen "Love Rain," here's what happens. Two college students meet and fall in love during the 70s but don't wind up married to each other. A generation later their children meet and not knowing their parents' history, fall for each other. And the children are perfect for each other. Jang Geun Suk and Yoona make one of the most adorable couples in drama history.
But in dramas, there's always something preventing or at least slowing down the course of true love. While these two young people fall in love, the adults meet again and decide to marry to make up for lost time. But if they marry, their children will become brother and sister. Which couple will sacrifice their happiness?
Jang Geun Suk and Yoona play both couples when they are young. Jung Jin Young and Lee Mi Sook play the 70s couple when they get older.
A Japanese director is currently editing the 20-episode drama into two films.
According to the production company, Yoon's Color, the first part of the film will be released on Sept. 20 and the second part on Oct. 11. There are no plans for the film to be released in Korea.
