The classic Korean drama Winter Sonata is returning to Japan, reborn as a theatrical film to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its broadcast in the country.

Production company Pan Entertainment announced on March 5 that the beloved series has been remastered in 4K and re-edited into a movie format.

The film will officially open in Japan on March 6.

Special Screening Held in Tokyo

Ahead of its release, a preview screening event took place on February 26 at the Shinjuku Piccadilly theater in Tokyo.

Director Yoon Seok-ho attended the event and watched the film with the audience. Misato Tanaka, who voiced the character played by Eugene in the Japanese version, also participated.

Yoon Seok-ho was involved throughout the film project to ensure the emotional essence of the original series remained intact, preserving the drama's signature "first love" sentiment.

A Korean Wave Classic Revisited

Winter Sonata originally aired on KBS2 in 2002 and was introduced to Japan in 2003. The series quickly became a massive hit, sparking a major wave of Korean pop culture popularity across the country.

Marking the 20th anniversary of its Japanese broadcast, the project was developed after repeated requests from local fans for a theatrical version.

The film version of Winter Sonata will begin screening in theaters across Japan starting March 6.