A delegation from Maui, including Mayor Alan Arakawa and Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo, just returned from a weeklong trip to South Korea to encourage tourism and cultural exchange. Spurring talks was the recent announcement that Asiana Airlines will add two charter flights from Korea to Honolulu each week beginning in September.
Add that to Korean Airlines’ two flights each day and Hawaiian Airlines’ four flights a week, and Honolulu will have 20 flights arriving from South Korea each week. Just a couple of years ago, there were only four direct flights a week.
Given all the potential visitors, perhaps tourism officials should take advantage of two upcoming opportunities to promote Hawaii. "Hawaii Five-0," which starts its second season Sept. 19, is broadcast in Korea. In January the Hyundai Championship in Kapalua, the PGA’s first tournament of the year, is the largest Korean-sponsored event in Hawaii.
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
"My Love by My Side"
Episodes 3 and 4
Tonight, 6:45 p.m.: Mi-sol tells Seok-bin that she’s pregnant. The abortion procedure is expensive. Jung-ja catches Seok-bin taking money from her wallet, so he tells his mother about Mi-sol’s condition.
Tonight, 7:45 p.m.: Jung-ja sends Seok-bin to study abroad. Jung-ja takes Mi-sol to an abortion clinic, but Mi-sol runs away after she hears the baby’s heartbeat.
"Lie to Me"
Episodes 7 and 8
Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.: Everyone is shocked by Ki-joon and Ah-jung’s kiss. After the party, Ah-jung asks Ki-joon why he kissed her, and he says it was just an act.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Ah-jung goes to Ki-joon’s house to return the gift she received from Mr. Chen and sees that Ki-joon is sick. She stays all night taking care of him. She hears about Ki-joon’s first love, Yoon-ju, and gets depressed.
"City Hunter"
Episodes 9 and 10
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Na-na is hanging on a ledge, and Yoon-sung tries to save her by pulling her up despite his injured arm. Young-joo chases Seo Yong-hak but gets shot. Seo almost gets away but Jin-pyo finds him.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Yoon-sung sees Jin-pyo at the hospital and follows him. Young-joo believes Yoon-sung is the City Hunter and follows him. Na-na is shocked when she hears Lee Kyung-hwan has been killed.
"New Tales of Gisaeng"
Episodes 41 and 42
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Sa-ran and Damo come back from their honeymoon. Damo’s father reluctantly agrees to let them move into the house if they get rid of their dog. But he makes Sa-ran sign a contract saying that she’ll leave Damo if she doesn’t produce a child within five years.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Everyone at Bu Yong Gak ignores Ra-ra in order to make her give up becoming a gisaeng. But Kyle, who doesn’t know the plan, becomes her manager. Sa-ran finds out she was abandoned in front of Ra-ra’s house. Soon-deok keeps having the nagging feeling Sa-ran might be her daughter.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
