As a milestone in Japan's ongoing love affair with Korean entertainment, which has been deepening over the past few years, "The Hotel Venus" is a big one.

The movie's star, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi of SMAP, has said that he first felt an affinity for Korea after seeing the film work of actor Han Suk Kyu and realizing there was a physical resemblance between himself and the Korean star. And had Kusanagi not pursued his interest in Korea and the Korean language, it's unlikely that "The Hotel Venus" -- the first Japanese-made Korean-language movie -- would have been made.

The Korean boom began in 2000 with "Shuri," a high-powered action flick that starred Han and became the first Korean blockbuster in Japan. Since then, general interest in Korean pop culture has been growing steadily, gaining momentum in 2002 when the two countries co-hosted the FIFA World Cup and promoted cultural exchanges. Eventually, Korean entertainers, such as singer BoA and actress Yoon Sona, found a foothold in the Japanese entertainment world.