Rents are soaring in Seoul as traditional “jeonse” (key money) is no longer the preferred method of renting. Jeonse is a deposit of a large sum that the renter gives the landlord when renting a home or condominium in Korea. When the tenant moves out, the key money is fully returned. In a typical two-bedroom, two-bath condo, jeonse could range from $100,000 to several hundred thousand dollars on a home. Homeowners would typically invest that key money in high-interest yield product in place of rent. Now that the banks are offering near 0 percent interest on savings, it is becoming more common for homeowners to use the U.S. method of monthly rent. The market is now typically a mix of jeonse of a lower amount but still in the several hundred thousands and a monthly rent of $1,000 as an example.
This week’s synopses
“Here Comes Jang Bo-ri”
Episodes 43 and 44
Sunday, 6:30 p.m.: Ji-sang tells In-hwa to stay at Bo-ri’s wedding and that he’d make sure Min-jung doesn’t try to ruin the wedding. Jae-hee comes to Jae-hwa’s wedding only to find out that Do is Min-jung’s real mother. Jung-ran finds Jae-hwa’s mother’s ring in Hwa-yeon’s jewelry box.
Sunday, 7:45 p.m.: Bo-ri and Jae-hwa trick Hwa-yeon into admitting that the ring belonged to Jae-hwa’s mother. Dong-hoo is furious, and Hwa-yeon, in tears, begs on her knees. Min-jung continues to use Jong-ha to put pressure on In-hwa.
“Mrs. Cop”
Episodes 5 and 6
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Do-young says she’ll never go away until Young-jin accepts her into her team. Jin-woo also shows up at the office and tells Young-jin he wants to join her team. Young-jin gives them a seemingly impossible test to turn them away. Young-jin finally gets her team together, and they tackle their first case.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m: Young-jin realizes professor Jung is not the real killer in Lee Eun-jung’s murder case. She suspects her co-worker at the flower shop might be the real killer. But the investigation takes another turn when they find contrasting evidence.
“The Gang Doctor”
Episodes 5 and 6
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Tae-hyun finds out Yeo-jin is awake. Tae-hyun gets news that they found a donor in the States just as So-hyun’s condition worsens. He’s devastated when he hears the cost of the operation. Director Lee tells Tae-hyun to relieve Nurse Hwang and watch over Yeo-jin.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Nurse Hwang overhears the hospital director and Director Lee discuss how to kill Yeo-jin per Do-joon’s orders. Yeo-jin, who is conscious but unable to move, waits in fear for what’s about to happen to her. Some suspicious patients are admitted to the 12th floor.
“Identical Affairs”
Episodes 1 and 2
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Choi Jin-eon (Ji Jin-hee) and Do Hae-kang (Kim Hyun-ju) are husband and wife in a rocky marriage. Jin-eon is attracted to grad student Seol-li (Park Han-byul). Hae-kang is a corporate lawyer for Jin-eon’s father’s pharmaceutical company. She finds out about her husband and Seol-li.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Hae-kang goes to school to pick up Jin-eon on a rainy day and sees Jin-eon put shoes on Seol-li in the rain. She’s angry and saddened by the tender way her husband treats Seol-li. Hae-kang visits Seol-li at the cafe where she works.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
