This past Friday marked my father’s 80th birthday. I am writing about him because Kea Sung Chung is the founding father of KBFD. Starting the broadcast station in 1986 was extremely risky for my father, who placed all his eggs in one basket, a business practice everyone tells you to avoid. The amount of investment needed to fund a TV station was overwhelming and in that turmoil my family of six became as close as any family could be. We either made it happen or we would be homeless; we had sold our house to start KBFD. Years of hardship and lack of advertisement support nearly took us under many times, but my father never gave up and told us the value of KBFD promoting Korean culture in Hawaii was important to empower the Korean community.
It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that our business started to break even. It started to grow with more investment in translating and subtitling our prime-time dramas, which my sister, Yun, took charge of. Korean dramas and K-pop gained momentum and have become a part of many local people’s lives. Our viewership is very strong and loyal; many advertising clients have grown with us. KBFD is now a family of five channels. My father’s vision to help the Korean community through KBFD has yielded benefits that money alone could not produce. KBFD has changed the perception of Koreans in Hawaii to a very positive one. The cultural boom from K-drama and K-pop has helped many small businesses, including tours to South Korea, Korean restaurants and Korean language classes, to name a few. My father has been given many medals of merit from the South Korean government — three honorary doctorates and other accolades — but he remains humble and continues to teach me the values of life. To my father and the father of KBFD, a man who is a pillar of the Korean community and who has helped so many, I would like to say: Happy 80th birthday and many more years of good health!
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
"Rosy Day"
Episodes 41 and 42
Sunday, 6:30 p.m.: Young saves Song-jung from the press. After he comes to her rescue, she softens toward him. Young definitely notices a change in her. So-hee leaves home and goes to Ihn-woo. He tries to get her to go back home, but she’s determined. Da-ihn thinks that Hee-joo is in love with her, but soon realizes that she’s mistaken.
Sunday, 7:45 p.m.: Young turns down Manager Ihm when she offers him her help. She gets drunk and ends up at Song-jung’s house. Da-jung finds out that she’s pregnant, bringing great joy to the whole family. Although she was happy with Young before, it strikes a note with Song-jung when she hears Shin-ae tell Young that he should have a baby, too. Dah-ihn struggles after she finds out who Hee-joo is.
"Secret Door"
Episodes 9 and 10
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: The king asks the crown prince why he went to see Kang Pil-jae, but the crown prince refuses to answer. The king locks him in jail when evidence surfaces that the crown prince was at the crime scene. The crown prince’s escort tells the crown princess all trouble began when Ji-dam entered the palace.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Ji-dam asks the crown princess to let her help the crown prince. Ji-dam consequently helps Park Moon-su find the real killer of Kang Pil-jae. The king orders Kim Taek to make an exchange for the real killer with the written pledge.
"My Lovely Girl"
Episodes 11 and 12
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Shi-woo wants to have a celebration after the successful debut of his new song by Sae-na, but she refuses. Instead, Sae-na goes to see Hyun-wook. Jae-young tries to recruit Hae-yoon to his company. Hae-yoon turns in her resignation.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Jae-young offers Sae-na, who’s now working as a freelancer, a contract. But when Sae-na doesn’t show much interest, Jae-young calls Sae-na to the studio where So-eun used to work. Afraid that Sae-na will find out about his relationship with So-eun, Hyun-wook tries to take Sae-na abroad with him to study.
"Endless Love"
Episodes 35 and 36
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Sae-kyung feels betrayed and deceived when she finds out In-ae is her father’s daughter. Park Young-tae hands General Cheon a report of Prime Minister Kim’s possible withdrawal from the presidential race.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: In-ae believes her daughter, Esther, was kidnapped to make Prime Minister Kim resign. She goes to see General Cheon and begs him to return her daughter safely in exchange for her withdrawal. In-ae is appointed as the special prosecutor, and starts her investigation on Park Young-tae.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
