“It wasn’t a matter of choice for fans like me. It was a must.”

Part of the “Super Sentai” series, better known to Western audiences as the inspiration for the “Power Rangers” phenomenon of the 1990s, “Choudenshi Bioman” and its companion shows tell the story of a group of people with special powers fighting supervillains intent on world domination.

The show was broadcast at a time of Japan’s transformation into a global cultural powerhouse, its animation and film studios producing content seen the world over.

But many Korean fans of “Choudenshi Bioman” were initially not even aware the show was Japanese.

Japanese imports banned

For decades, South Korea imposed sweeping restrictions on Japanese cultural imports due to historical tensions stemming from Tokyo’s colonial rule over the peninsula in the early 20th century.

It was not until 1998 — more than half a century after Korea’s independence — that Seoul began lifting its ban on Japanese media content.