Bin Tajima, the president of Japan’s leading music label Hip Land Music, said political discord between Korea and Japan is hampering the two countries’ cultural exchanges, but that hope lingered as major K-pop groups continue to boast impregnable fan bases.

“When the TV drama ‘Winter Sonata’ hit Japan, it stormed the nation. The heat spread to Japanese people’s love for K-pop, especially for the likes of groups TVXQ and KARA. If you look back on the TV programs aired during that time, everything had to do with K-pop, K-drama or something related to Korea,” he reminisced.

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“But as time went by, political issues came up, and shadow was drawn across hallyu fever. Apart from politics, on the business side, contracts would fall through while working with Korea’s management companies due to ‘dissensus’ on appearance fees,” Tajima said.

But the interest in Korean groups has not died out completely.

“The heat may have cooled down among the general public, however, there still remains the core supporters. Groups like TVXQ and 2PM have an undying fan base. You know this because whenever these bands hold a concert in Tokyo Dome ? which can accommodate 50,000 people ? all seats there would sell-out,” said Tajima.

He mentioned up and rising boy groups VIXX and BTS as possible leaders of the Korean Wave’s next-generation.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)