Just three weeks ago, I wrote about South Korean rapper Psy and his song "Gangnam Style" going viral on the Internet with 72 million views on YouTube.
By the time you read this column, it should be well over 220 million views.
Psy was in New York City last week to make appearances on NBC’s "Today" show and ABC’s "Good Morning America" doing his signature horse dance. He also made an appearance on "The Ellen Show" in Los Angeles to provide a dance lesson to Ellen DeGeneres and guest star Britney Spears.
But what really put the icing on the cake was when "Saturday Night Live" did a Lids skit in which "Gangnam Style" was used to cheer up a worker — a Psy lookalike magically slipped out from behind the mall store’s sliding wall to do the horse dance. The skit concluded with the real Psy making an appearance to a cheering audience.
"Gangnam Style" last week reached No. 1 on iTunes’ top 10 songs chart, a Hallyu feat no other Korean entertainer has even come close to. Even though he is of average height and is not "celebrity thin," Psy has created a bookmark in the Korean entertainment industry.
"Tasty Life"
Episodes 21 and 22
Today, 6:45 p.m.: Sung-joo tells In-chul that she no longer has any feelings left for him, so he shouldn’t feel uncomfortable around her. After Yong-gi hears that the son of Korea Hospital’s owner is marrying Shin-jo’s oldest daughter, he’s determined to find a doctor for a daughter-in-law, too. Jae-hyuk’s mother makes Sung-joo sign a prenuptial agreement. Tae-hyung finally tells Jung-hyun that he likes her, an unexpected declaration that leaves her confused.
Today, 7:45 p.m.: When confronted, In-chul admits to a shocked Shin-yong that Sung-joo was the woman he was seeing. Shin-jo tries to call off the wedding, but finds out that Jae-hyuk knows everything. Shin-yong struggles to come to terms with who Sung-joo was to her husband. She swears to exact revenge in the most painful way.
"Faith"
Episodes 3 and 4
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Choi Young wakes up from surgery and gets ready to leave, telling Eun-soo everyone will die if they don’t leave right away. But Eun-soo refuses to leave, saying the gate to her world is there.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: The king asks Eun-soo to take the position of the royal physician, but Eun-soo tells him she has to leave. She is devastated when Il-shin saysthere’s no telling when the gate will open again. Princess No-guk asks Choi Young if everyone in the country wants her and the king dead.
"To the Beautiful You"
Episodes 1 and 2
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Tae-joon is a star high jumper who’s in a slump. Jae-hee is a Korean-American high school student who comes to Korea to help Tae-joon improve his performance. The only problem is Tae-joon’s in an all-boy high school dormitory and Jae-hee must disguise herself as a boy to attend the school.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Jae-hee is busy getting used to her new life in school. She runs a marathon with her twisted ankle to help Tae-joon out of a tight spot, and leads her dorm to victory in a school athletic meet. But that night, during the school celebration, Tae-joon unwittingly gets drunk and kisses Jae-hee.
"Five Fingers"
Episodes 3 and 4
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Professor Hwang comes to see In-ha and Ji-ho an hour later. Young-rang thinks she’s been caught by Yoo Man-se and nervously goes to the secret warehouse, but there’s no sign of anyone having been there. Dami practices the piece she wants to play for her mom’s birthday.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Young-rang passes out, and Ji-ho is afraid for In-ha’s life. In-ha and Yoo Man-se are taken to a hospital emergency room. The police takes Young-ran in for questioning.
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Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
