More shows, subtitles on new KBFD channel
K-Drama
By Jeff Chung
Fans of Hawai'i's hallyu, or Korean wave, have asked for more programming with subtitles. With the launch of KBFD 2 on Oceanic Cable digital channel 80, they got just that.
KBS, one of Korea's largest networks, took a global initiative by launching KBS World. KBS World is a satellite channel that sends signals worldwide: Europe, Asia, the United States and soon South America.
Like the BBC and NHK, KBS is a pioneering effort. It will promote Korean culture through television globally. What resulted for Hawai'i is the partnership with KBS America and KBFD with the launch of Oceanic Cable digital channel 80, with 24/7 programming of KBS programs.
Currently, half of KBFD 2 programming has English subtitles.
What fans desired most was the translation of other programs, not just dramas: documentaries, healthy living, educational, music, historical, and the entertainment news.
The staff at KBFD has been working overtime to translate and subtitle even more, but with the new workload, it was inevitable that KBS started its own translations and subtitles.
We are getting a lot of feedback from fans that sometimes the subtitles are too thin or difficult to see without shadows or edging around the text. Feedback has been sent to the networks; expect to see an improvement.
Watch for these programs with more English subtitles:
For the coming holiday season, KBFD 2 will have Christmas and New Year's specials. KBFD 2 has more recent programming with minimal lag time behind actual air dates in Korea.
On KBFD (Oceanic Cable 4 and digital 82), we are phasing out much KBS programming since KBFD 2 is fully dedicated to it. This month, KBFD begins showing programs from the major Korean networks SBS and MBC. Instead of re-televising the previous evening's programs, KBFD will now have first-run shows during the day as well as English-subtitled dramas, which allows airing of top dramas from SBS and MBC that could not get air time because there weren't enough time slots.
In other news, a series, "Heaven's Tree," begins 9:25 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; it was filmed in Japan and Korea with Japanese actors who speak Korean. "Chumong" on Wednesdays and Thursdays still remains the top program, and a new show, "Green Rose," debuting Friday and Saturday, is expected to follow suit.
Sign up with Oceanic Cable to get KBFD 2.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. K-drama question or comment? Contact him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES
'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'
EPISODES 37 AND 38
Tonight at 7: Jongchill catches Taeja sneaking his cell phone out. Chansoon overhears as Jongchill is disciplining him, and chastises Jongchill for raising her voice to her husband. Just then Myongja walks in, and an argument between Myongja and Chansoon ensues.
Tonight at 8: Seolchill, Michill, Ilhan and Lt. Bang go out for drinks, but Seolchill and Michill get into an argument. Michill throws beer at Seolchill, and Ilhan slaps Michill in front of Seolchill. Seontaek's ex-wife shows up and demands to take their children with her.
'KOREA SECRET AGENCY'
EPISODES 9 AND 10
Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Kang's mother now takes pride in that he has become an intelligence agent and prepares a feast. Kang's father and brother Seon are puzzled by the sudden change in her attitude. After the fiasco at the illegal casino, the KSA chief gets summoned from Chungwadae, the presidential residence.
Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: After learning that the president never meant to send Kang to the KSA, his partner and senior agent Yang Soo-gil starts mistreating him. Kang goes by Joo-yon's after an evening of drinking. They end up sharing a kiss, and Joo-yon savors the moment as it is her first kiss.
'LOVE & AMBITION'
EPISODES 65 AND 66
Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Mi-ja can't accept the reality that Tae-joon has another woman. Tae-soo hands over money and the deed to the pool hall to Jo Bong-jin in exchange for a divorce. Tae-joon gets furious when Mi-ja comes home drunk and takes Sang-woo with him.
Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Mi-ja begs Tae-joon to take her back, but Tae-joon turns her down cold. But when he returns home, Tae-joon tells his mother he'll send Sang-woo back to Mi-ja. Mi-ja comes for Sang-woo, and when Sang-woo refuses to go back home with her, Mi-ja explodes.
'GREEN ROSE'
EPISODES 1 AND 2
Friday and Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: At a new employee training, Jung-hyun (Go Soo) carries injured Soo-ah (Lee Da-hae) on a hiking excursion. A year later, Jung-hyun and Soo-ah have become a couple and happily plan a wedding. Jung-hyun is shocked when he walks into a mansion when he visits Soo-ah's father, who happens to be the chairman of the company he works for. Chairman Oh had planned to have Soo-ah marry Hyun-tae, a young executive of his company. However, he finds out Hyun-tae was involved in illegal dealings and calls him to his cabin to talk.
