Japanese beer displayed at a large supermarket in Seoul [Yonhap News]

Japanese media reported on the 17th that the boycott of Japanese products movement, known as "No Japan," has become a thing of the past due to the warming of South Korea-Japan relations.

Jiji Press reported that South Korea's import value of Japanese beer surpassed its all-time high last year, indicating that "Japanese flavors" are regaining popularity, especially among young people who enjoy traveling to Japan.

According to the news agency, Japanese beer imported by South Korea was worth approximately 12.6 billion yen (about 117.7 billion won) last year, exceeding the previous record of 12.4 billion yen in 2018, before the "No Japan" movement gained momentum.

Following the boycott of Japanese products that began in 2019, South Korea's Japanese beer imports, which had fallen to 900 million yen in 2020, have been steadily recovering since 2021, reaching their highest point in seven years.

The popularity of "Japanese flavors" among Koreans appears to be expanding, with Japan's largest yakitori franchise, "Torikizoku," planning to open its fourth store in South Korea this spring, following the launch of its first store in Hongdae in 2024.

The news agency also reported that the number of South Korean tourists visiting Japan has been on the rise since 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.

The number of South Koreans visiting Japan has surpassed 13 million last year, following 12 million in 2024, marking a record high for two consecutive years.

According to a survey on Japanese favorability among South Koreans released in August last year by the private think tank East Asia Institute, 52.4% of respondents answered that they have a "good impression of Japan," the highest proportion since the survey began in 2013.