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KBFD celebrates its 31st anniversary Friday. Chairman, founder and my father, Kea Sung Chung, 83, started his venture in TV back in 1976 by leasing 30 minutes every Saturday morning on KIKU, which became KHNL in 1984. Chung broadcast KBS national news in black and white, the only news source from South Korea in Hawaii.
Locally owned and operated, KBFD started in 1986 against tremendous odds, surviving month to month. I started as a cameraman in 1986 while also acting as master control operator, playing videotapes on air. I felt like quitting so many times, but my father kept the course, never swaying despite hardship.
A memorable yet humbling experience came covering a news event in 1987 at Gov. John Waihee’s office.
The station couldn’t afford a professional broadcast camera yet. I was a rookie in a room filled with experienced reporters and cameramen jockeying for the best angle with their 50-pound broadcast cameras on tripods. I was holding a home video camera on my shoulder with an extra battery pack in my pocket.
They looked at me with my inferior equipment and acted as if I didn’t belong, subtly trying to shove me aside. I stood my ground and recorded the video footage as my hand shook from holding the camera on my shoulder so long.
I vowed to grow KBFD to compete with local networks that day. That vow was the primary reason I pushed to transition KBFD to high definition, which it did on May 11, 2015 — the first independent station in Hawaii to do so.
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
Perfect Bride
Episodes 37 and 38
>> Today, 6:30 p.m.: Gab-dol gets ready to move out with Gab-soon. They inform their parents of their intention to move in together. Wanting to get back together with Jae-soon, Jeon tries to ruin Geum-shik and Jae-soon’s relationship.
>> Today, 7:45 p.m.: Joong-nyun and Nae-shim are upset at seeing Gab-dol and Gab-soon’s new place. They decide to bless Gab-dol and Gab-soon’s marriage and tell Ki-ja they will have them married. Jeon blames Jae-soon and Geum-shik for not raising Ddol right and tells Jae-soon he’ll take custody of Ddol.
Innocent Defendant
Episodes 10 and 11
>> Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Joon-hyuk is confused at seeing Ha-yun on the surveillance video footage. Chul-shik informs Jung-woo of a way to pass the seven gates in the prison. Yun-hee is visited by a detective named Jennifer Lee.
>> Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Jung-woo plans to escape the hospital with Ha-yun and Sung-gyu. At the same time, Min-ho is madly searching for Jung-woo. Jung-woo, realizing it’d be hard for all three to escape together, tells Ha-yun and Sung-gyu to split up and meet at the parking lot.
Saimdang, Memoir of Colors
Episodes 11 and 12
>> Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Yi Gyum comes to the rescue when Saimdang is harassed by goons sent by Whieumdang. Saimdang is shocked when Pal-bong, a survivor of the Woonpyungsa incident, tells her the massacre was premeditated. Yi Gyum finds out King Joong-jong’s poem gave rise to the massacre.
>> Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Upon discovering what happened, Yi Gyum embraces Saimdang and apologizes, breaking into tears. Using a sample left by her father, Saimdang embarks on producing the paper. Whieumdang hires Man-deuk to set up a trap to put Saimdang in trouble.
Happy Home
Episode 40 and 41
>> Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Hyun-ki regains consciousness. He asks Ji-gun how long he has to live. Sam-bong tells Hae-ryung and Ji-gun to get married within a month. Ho-jae confronts Man-ho, asking for his son.
>> Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Hae-ryung thanks Ji-gun for coming into her life. Sook-nyo tells Hyun-ki about Hae-ryung’s wedding. Hyun-ki promises to move out before then. Min-jung realizes she’s pregnant.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD-TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
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