TOKYO (Yonhap News) ― A festival highlighting South Korean cinema opened in Japan’s capital on Saturday as part of an ongoing effort to promote cultural exchange between the neighboring countries.

The 2012 True K-Cinema Festival that will run through June 15 is being held under the main theme of love and bonds and showcases past movies such as “Come Closer,” “If You Were Me” and “Romantic Heaven.”

In addition, “18 and 19,” a story of youthful romance, and “Growing Old,” along with 11 other moves that have never been shown in Japan, can be appreciated.

The event, which is the third of its kind, aims to promote better understanding between movie goers in the two countries and bolster growing two-way cultural exchange.

Korean popular culture or K-pop has become a presence in Japan with many dance and singing groups having large numbers of fans on the island nation.

Following the Tokyo cinema festival, another South Korean film show will be held in Nagoya from June 23 through July 13.