‘Korean Legacy’ features retired judge, KBFD founder

KBFD TV will be broadcasting its “Korean Legacy” series highlighting Korean Americans in Hawaii. This year, retired Chief Justice Ronald Moon and KBFD founder Kea Sung Chung will be interviewed. The program airs at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday on Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving day or Harvest Moon Festival).

Moon is the first Korean American to head a state supreme court. He is also a descendant of the first Korean immigrants to Hawaii; his grandfather came in 1903.

Chung, this columnist’s father, immigrated to Hawaii in 1972. He started broadcasting in 1974, airing a Korean national newscast in black-and-white, leasing weekly time on a local channel. In 1986, he committed everything he had to starting KBFD TV, the first FCC-licensed channel in the United States dedicated to Korean programming.

Wanting to promote Korean culture in Hawaii, he decided in 1988 to provide English subtitles for some programs. The station transitioned from black-and-white to color, digital and now high-definition broadcasting. Tape formats also changed over time, from 1-inch tapes to three-quarter-inch tape (Beta SP and digital Beta), and now high-definition.

THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES

“Breezy Love”

Episodes 32-33

>> Today, 6:30 p.m.: Shinae arrives at the orphanage. She sees Deokcheon and Heedong saying goodbye to the director as they get in the car with Yoojin. Shinae’s shocked beyond belief and wonders how Deokcheon and Yoojin are together.

>> Today, 7:45 p.m.: Shinae tries to put the ring back in Deokcheon’s room. She doesn’t see the ring with the Chinese character and asks Yoojin who followed her. Frightened, he admits he gave it to Yoosung. At hearing this, Shinae nearly collapses and screams at him.

“Distorted”

Episodes 29-32 (finale)

>> Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Moo-young engages in psychological warfare with Nam Kang-myung while asking about the tattoo. Tae-won and Young-ki feign nonchalance and plan to use Nam Kang-myung to their advantage. So-ra asks Mr. Cha for a favor before she faces the disciplinary committee.

>> Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: An anonymous informant sends a USB to Moo-young and Suk-min containing a record of the news piece Chul-ho was working on five years ago. Moo-young pressures Tae-won to confess the truth about Mit-eum Orphanage. A dark truth starts to unveil with Chul-ho’s video file.

“Into The World Again”

Episodes 37-40 (finale)

>> Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Hae-sung spends whatever time he has left with Jung-won. Dong-suk disappears with Gong-joo. Jung-won and Min-joon see Hae-sung’s body fading away.

>> Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Hae-sung is found innocent. He goes on a farewell trip with his siblings. Jung-won’s book gets published. Hae-sung is glad to see Jung-won’s career taking off and his siblings living well with the restaurant he opened for them.

“Band of Sisters”

Episodes 49-52

>> Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Deul-re finds out Se-ra Park is actually Yang Dal-hee. She’s reminded of all the bad things that happened between her and Dal-hee. Regardless of that discovery, Dal-hee goes on with her evil ways.

>> Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Deul-re gets suspicious of Kye-hwa and Secretary Oh. Deul-re searches for the brooch. Se-kyung seeks out Eun-hyang, asking her to look after Yong-ha.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD-TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.