Kind of.
With the relaxing of old laws prohibiting the public presentation of Japanese media (music, movies, TV shows, etc.), Korea is starting to see more stuff from Japan. Some older Japanese animated movies (mostly from Studio Ghibli) are making their way onto the screens in Korean theaters, and lots of current Japanese films are showing up in video rental shops.
And it’s not just a one-way street. I was waiting for Tracey in Shibuya last night and was a bit surprised by one of the ads running on the massive outdoor screens there –
an ad for a Korean movie:
And not just any movie, but one I actually own: Jopok Manura (My Wife is a Gangster). It’s a decent action/comedy (and would have been a great one if they’d left out the crappy melodramatic parts) that goes against Korean stereotypes. Namely, a strong female lead that all the men respect – because she can kick all of their asses.
I’d watched it a few times in Korea, and brought it along on this trip to show it to Tracey. She dug it as much as I did and served as a good test audience. Having never been to Korea or exposed to much of its culture, she still got a kick out of the movie. There are a few cultural in-jokes, but not enough to detract from one’s enjoyment of the film.
I recommend checking it out if you have the means and am curious to see how it’ll be received when it opens in Japanese theaters.