<figure id="attachment_395969" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2689px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395969"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="478af499"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/d2c4299efb346d41c9d81d56a097f67e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395969" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Could the day come again when we can see this smile!? (September 23, 2005 issue)</span></figcaption></figure>
<h3><b>Realized in response to calls for a film adaptation</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The drama Winter Sonata, starring Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon (52), known as &#8220;Yon-sama,&#8221; first aired on NHK BS in Japan in 2003 and sparked a massive boom when it was rebroadcast on terrestrial television in 2004. It has now been reported by South Korean media that a theatrical version of the series will be released in Japan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the article, the decision to produce the film was made due to the 20th anniversary of its first broadcast in Japan in 2023 and the numerous requests from Japanese distribution companies and fans for a film adaptation. Editing is currently underway, with a target release date set for the fall of 2025. Director Yoon Seok-ho, who helmed the original drama, is involved in the entire film production process. The film will be remastered in high-definition 4K, and the original soundtrack (OST) will be rearranged and re-recorded with orchestral versions.</span></p>
<p><b>&#8220;It’s important to condense it into a film that lasts no more than two and a half hours, so it will likely be a compilation of the entire 20 episodes. While the drama has been rebroadcast numerous times in Japan and fans know the story inside and out, most fans still want to experience the emotions of the story on the big screen. Anticipation for its success is already high before its release,&#8221; </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">said a film industry insider.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Choi Ji-woo (49), who played the heroine in the series, appeared in the TBS drama Black Pean Season 2 starring Kazunari Ninomiya (41) in July. She also participated in a stage greeting event for her starring Korean film New Normal on its opening day in Tokyo in August, marking her first visit to Japan in 18 years for movie promotions.</span></p>
<p><b>&#8220;It’s likely that Ji-woo will participate in related events if the theatrical version of Winter Sonata is released. While fans will be thrilled to see her, what they really want is to see Yon-sama,&#8221;</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the insider added.</span></p>
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<h3><b>Police were dispatched to his first visit to Japan</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In April 2004, while Winter Sonata was being rebroadcast on NHK&#8217;s terrestrial television, Bae Yong-joon, known as &#8220;Yon-sama,&#8221; made his first visit to Japan, arriving at Haneda Airport for a promotional event for his upcoming film Scandal. Due to the public announcement of his arrival date and location, around 5,000 fans gathered at the airport, causing a panic that required police intervention and resulted in some injuries.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During his second visit to Japan in November of the same year for a photo exhibition and press conference, it was reported that approximately 3,500 fans gathered at Narita Airport. Since his first visit, Bae Yong-joon’s open appearances at events have been referred to as official visits, with his family, as he affectionately calls his fans, welcoming him at the airport with cheers each time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His popularity in Japan is reflected in his earnings. In 2005, at the peak of his popularity, his annual income converted to Japanese yen was approximately 4.3 billion yen, with 90% of that coming from Japan, which is astonishing. However, he did not squander this wealth; in 2006, he invested 1 billion won to establish a talent agency called KEYEAST in Korea.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since then, he has focused on his activities as an investor, with his last acting role being in the 2011 Korean drama Dream High. His last official visit to Japan was in October 2013. By 2015, his assets had surpassed 15.2 billion yen, solidifying his status as a businessman, but he sold KEYEAST to the major Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment (SME) in 2018, reportedly making a substantial profit from the sale. In August 2016, he attended an SME event at Tokyo Dome, suggesting that he was already in negotiations for the sale.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In his private life, he married Park Soo-jin (38), a former member of the idol group Sugar and actress, in July 2015. They have one son and one daughter and are reported to be living comfortably in Hawaii.</span></p>
<p><b>&#8220;The event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Korean Wave in 2013, which was his last official visit to Japan, was made possible by overwhelming fan votes and the efforts of those involved. Similarly, the production of this theatrical version has come about due to the strong desires of the family in Japan, raising expectations that he will give back to his fans on this significant occasion. Although the 2016 Tokyo Dome event was not an official visit, he was seated in a VIP area and waved back to the audience when introduced. Once the release of the theatrical version is officially confirmed, negotiations will likely begin for his return, so it’s reasonable to be hopeful,&#8221; </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">said a television network representative.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The family eagerly awaits the day they can once again see Yon-sama&#8217;s smile.</span></p>
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<figure id="attachment_395970" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2689px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395970"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="4cafcbf2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/50ded1173d42ffc10dc588b602829106.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395970" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bae Yong-joon visited Japan for the PR of the film </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">April Snow</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (September 23, 2005 issue).</span></figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_395971" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2689px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395971"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e5940e55"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/7c09fe71f357dbc8f975ec90e8d36f4f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395971" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Around 1,100 media personnel gathered at the press conference held at a hotel in Tokyo. His co-star Son Ye-jin (right) also became famous for A Moment to Remember and Crash Landing on You (September 23, 2005 issue).</span></figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_395972" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2689px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395972"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d363046b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/377d6ed0efd65e7a8aa04ccf0d7099c1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395972" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the night of the press conference, Bae Yong-joon arrived in a convoy of about ten black cars to the underground parking lot of a certain high-rise building in Tokyo. A dinner gathering was presumed to take place in the building, but as soon as the convoy entered, the parking garage doors were closed, and staff were stationed throughout the building, creating a strict security protocol that completely shut out both the media and fans (September 23, 2005 issue).</span></figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_395973" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2057px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-395973"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0d88b3ea"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/10/e9d2f530155264fc1eb60be2b7b9438e.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-395973" class="wp-caption-text"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When he visited in 2009, approximately 1,700 family members gathered at the airport. On this occasion, Choi Ji-woo also came to Japan with him (October 16, 2009 issue).</span></figcaption></figure>
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 Takeshi Kinugawa

 It was announced that "Winter Sonata" will be released in theaters in 2013. The 20th anniversary of the show's release in Japan was celebrated last year, and the movie version is said to have been made in response to fan demand. And among fans, expectations are growing for Yong-sama's visit to Japan.

Excitement Builds Among Fans as Winter Sonata Movie Release Approaches

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