> I think it has to do with the increasing cult popularity of japanese
> entertainment, which is is sort of the "last straw" on top of other
> positive characteristics associated with japan and its culture;

I have been studying PR recently... I sometimes wonder how Japan has 
managed to get such good PR for itself.

Imagine it was a product. You would have people lining up outside shops 
to get their hands on it, and spending their savings to get it.

Korea is a comparable country in many ways. Why is Korea not "cool" like 
Japan is?

You don't see hoardes of people learning Korean, dreaming of living 
there, buying Korean comic books etc. I'm sure there are some 
Korea-philes out there... nowhere near as many as Japanophiles.

Indeed, look at the English teachers in Korea vs. Japan. The ones in 
Japan often have a primary obsession: live in Japan. Whereas the ones in 
Korea seem to be there to save money, and experience a "different" 
culture. A foreign culture... not singularly obsessed with that one country.