"Dancing with the Stars" and "Korea’s Got Talent" are getting a lot of attention nowadays. The Korean versions of the hit American programs have the same structure and style as their counterparts. Recently, nearly 30 different friends have sent me a link to a video of 22-year-old Choi Sung Bong singing "Nella Fantasia" on "Korea’s Got Talent." The clip has nearly 9 million hits so far. Choi was orphaned at age 3, then ran away from the orphanage at 5 because of beatings and wandered the streets homeless. He spent 10 years sleeping on stairs and in public bathrooms, selling gum and energy drinks to make a living. His dream was to just live a normal life — something many of us take for granted. Choi has become an instant celebrity and is expected to get to the finals. Watch Choi’s performance at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y.
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
"Save the Last Dance for Me"
Episodes 19 and 20 (last episode)
Tonight, 6:45 p.m.: Tae-min tells Eun-soo that he’s going to take everything from Hyun-woo since Hyun-woo took her away from him. Soo-jin tells Eun-soo what Tae-min is up to and asks her to help Hyun-woo.
Tonight, 7:45 p.m.: Hyun-woo gets the company back from Tae-min, and Tae-min gets sued. Tae-min tells Hyun-woo that his parents died because of the company. Tae-min plans to leave the country and asks Eun-soo to come with him. When Eun-soo turns him down, he swears to take revenge on Hyun-woo.
"Lie to Me"
Episodes 3 and 4
Tomorrow, 7:45 p.m.: Ah-jung runs into So-ran on her way to meet Ki-joon and his friends. Ah-jung gets annoyed at So-ran’s sarcasm.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: When Ki-joon won’t meet her, Ah-jung gets a suite at the hotel and causes a scene. Ah-jung invites Sang-hee over to drink with her in the room, and they spend the night there. Park Hoon sees Sang-hee and Ah-jung coming out of the room in the morning and tells Ki-joon about it.
"City Hunter"
Episodes 5 and 6
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Jin-pyo targets the restaurant where Seo and his wife are dining. Na-na is terrified when a bullet shatters glass in the restaurant and the whole place is engulfed in darkness. Yoon-sung saves Na-na from harm and rushes over to the building where Jin-pyo is.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Na-na is furious with Yoon-sung for buying her place and tells him she’s turned off by him. Young-joo goes over the CCTV footage to find the identity of the City Hunter.
"New Tales of Gisaeng"
Episodes 37 and 38
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Ra-ra is frustrated by her superficial mother-in-law to be. She demands Ra-ra buy a condo as a dowry when she finds out Dr. Geum isn’t her biological father. Da-mo’s father cuts off all financial support and tells Da-mo’s friends not to help Da-mo. Sa-ran and Da-mo have an engagement ceremony on their own.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Da-mo has a hard time getting a job because of his father. Ra-ra tells Sa-ran to get married and have a baby, instead of waiting for Da-mo’s father’s approval. Ra-ra sees her fiance on a date with another woman and calls off the engagement. Eo-san and Soon-deok get married.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
