82
What do Korean drama celebrities Lee Byung Hun, Song Kang Ho, Jung Woo Sung, Lee Jun Ki, Oh Ji Ho, Ha Ji Won, Shin Hyun Joon, Tak Jae Hoon, Ju Jin Mo and Lee Ki Woo have in common? They were all guests of the Hawaii International Film Festival, most attending during my tenure as festival president and board chairman.
HIFF will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this October, and it also is the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. To commemorate both, the festival will close with a new film released just last week in Korea titled "71: Into the Fire." The film, based on a true story, is about 71 South Koreans who die on the front lines in the early part of the conflict. The all-star cast includes Kwon Sang Woo, T.O.P., Cha Seung Won and Kim Seung Woo. Director John Lee has expressed interest in walking the red carpet at the HIFF.
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
"DEFINITELY NEIGHBORS," EPISODES 5, 6, 7 and 8
Sunday at 6:45 p.m.:
Sung-jae takes Mee-jin home to meet his mom but finds Ji-yong there. Ji-yong’s father surprises Ji-yong by suddenly coming over. She’s ashamed of her situation. Sung-jae’s mother finds out that Woo-jin got a divorce. Yong-sil quits her job. Ji-yong finds a job in a restaurant.
Sunday at 7:45 p.m.:
Ji-yong thinks Sung-jae’s moving in next door and doesn’t like it one bit. Eun-seo doesn’t want her father to remarry. Ha-yong goes over to Ki-hoon’s uninvited and ends up getting kicked out. Sung-jae proposes to Mee-jin and she accepts. Ji-yong starts working at the restaurant and finds the chef pompous.
Monday at 7:45 p.m.:
Woo-jin still doesn’t recognize Yong-sil and that makes her mad. Ki-hoon and Ha-yong start dating. Eun-seo tells Grandpa Woo-jin why she’s alone at home. Ji-yong’s having a hard time dealing with the chef, who picks on everything she does. Sung-jae takes Eun-seo to lunch with Mee-jin and Joon-seo .
Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.:
Eun-seo ends up in the hospital from the stress from meeting Mee-jin and Joon-seo . Ji-yong blames Sung-jae. Sung-jae doesn’t know what to do. Gun-hee starts to notice there’s more to Ji-yong than her stubbornness. Yong-sil still resents Woo-jin for not remembering their date 30 years ago. Ha-yong and Ki-hoon go to the beach to watch the sunrise.
"PRINCESS PROSECUTOR," EPISODES 13 and 14
Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.:
Hyeri asks Inwoo whether he approached her intentionally, and Inwoo admits to everything. Hyeri stays home because she’s upset and hurt. Everyone at the office gets worried when Hyeri doesn’t show up to work and doesn’t answer their calls. Hyeri decides to go to Inwoo’s place and slap him in the face.
Thursday at 7:45 p.m.:
Inwoo and Hyeri find out each other’s feelings, but both are sad because of their unfortunate fate. Hyeri’s dad is shocked to hear that Hyeri is in love with Inwoo. Hyeri meets Shin Jungnam to investigate the case, but when Jungnam refuses to speak to her, she tells him that she is Sangtae’s daughter and that Inwoo is Suh Dongkeun’s son. Jungnam, then, opens his mouth to Inwoo.
"LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL," EPISODES 15 and 16
Friday at 7:45 p.m.:
Hosup offers to teach Yeonju how to scuba-dive. Taeseop asks Minjae whether he can move out on his own to the city. Minjae tells him to move out after he gets married and asks him about Chaeyoung again.
Saturday at 7:45 p.m.:
Hoseop asks Yeonju to a movie and gets busy getting ready for their first date. Byungjoon and Ara go on a picnic, and Ara opens up to him a little. Taeseop is elated when his parents approve of him moving out and prepares dinner with wine to surprise Kyungsu.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 orjeffchung@kbfd.com.
