The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival kicks off Oct. 19, and the always strong Korean selections will keep hungry Hawai'i hallyu fans laughing, crying and on the edge of their seats.

The festival will feature two of South Korea's all-time top films: "The King and the Clown" and "The Host."

There will be only one screening of "The Host," the biggest-selling film in Korean cinema history, so my guess is that it will quickly sell out, followed closely by "The King and the Clown."

"Marrying the Mafia 3" may also sell out fast as its star Shin Hyun Joon ("Stairway to Heaven") will attend the Hawai'i Theatre screening.

Last year, fans waited for five hours in the rain to see "Bittersweet Life" — with Lee Byung Hun making a live appearance.

I hope the weather will be better this year as fans will have to wait for their chance to see Shin Hyun Joon. It is a bargain for fans to be able to see a hallyu star for the cost of a movie ticket.

The eight Korean films (all with English subtitles) in this year's HIFF are:

'LUMP OF SUGAR (GAKSEOLTANG)'

4 P.M. OCT. 21 AND 23, REGAL DOLE

Director Lee Hwan-Gyeong's film gets its international premiere in Hawai'i. A young woman dreams of becoming a jockey like her late mother. Starring Im Soo Jung from Lee's "Sad Movie."

'THE KING AND THE CLOWN (WANG-UI NAMJA)'

7:30 P.M. OCT. 22, 1:30 P.M. OCT. 28, REGAL DOLE

The film follows two jesters arrested for lampooning the king. Threatened with execution, they are given one last chance — they must make the king laugh.

'THE HOST (GWOEMUL)'

7 P.M. OCT. 24, REGAL DOLE

"The Host" brings to the big screen thrills and scares. This film is a modern geopolitical/ ecological parable, complete with a creature lurking in Seoul's Han River.

'A DIRTY CARNIVAL (BIYEOLHAN GEORI)'

7:30 P.M. OCT. 25, 10:30 P.M. OCT. 28, REGAL DOLE

In director Yoo Ha's film, Byung-doo is the No. 2 man in a small-time criminal gang and the sole supporter of his ill mother and younger siblings. When the boss asks him to embark on a secret mission, it's an offer he can't refuse.

'FAMILY TIES (GAJOKEUI TANSAENG)'

7 P.M. OCT. 23, 6 P.M. OCT. 28, REGAL DOLE

From Kim Tae-yong, the co-director of the cult horror film "Memento Mori, Family Ties," is this anthology of three stories that illustrate the forging of new familial bonds, emerging from the dissolution of more traditional relationships.

'MARRYING THE MAFIA 3: REBIRTH OF THE FAMILY (Gamunui buhwal)'

7:30 P.M. OCT. 23, HAWAI'I THEATRE

Korean star Shin Hyeon-jun will be at this international premiere of the mob-family comedy. Mrs. Hong, matriarch of the White Tiger gang, takes her crime family legit and plans to build a kim chee empire, but a disbarred prosecutor out for revenge and a new daughter-in-law has other ideas.

'BLUE SWALLOW (CHEONG YEON)'

2:45 P.M. OCT. 22, 3:30 P.M. OCT. 25, REGAL DOLE

Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s, "Blue Swallow" is an enthusiastic (if surprisingly apolitical) tale of high adventure. Park Kyung-won joins the army to become a Korean Amelia Earhart but is imprisoned for fighting in the resistance. (Fan note: Cast member Jang Jin Young was recently in Hawai'i relaxing after finishing her latest film, "The Unbearable Lightness of Dating.")

'APT'

10:30 P.M. OCT. 25, REGAL DOLE

There's something unusual about the apartments across from Sejin's high-rise. Every night at 9:56, the lights mysteriously flicker, but none of the residents seem to notice. When people begin dying during the blackouts, Sejin discovers the spine-chilling connection. The director, Ahn Byeong-ki, visits the Islands often — his brother is a Hawai'i resident.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, contact him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.

LAME HONEYMOONS, BROKEN HEARTS ON 'CHILL SISTERS'

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 25 AND 26

Tonight at 7: Myongja and Seolchill find Dukchill passed out in her room. Yangpal tries to kick Dukchill out of the house. Taeja goes out with friends — on his honeymoon night!

Tonight at 8: Dukchill is wary of Suntaek, who approached her after the franchise seminar. Michill brings Ilhan to the house to meet the family, breaking Seolchill's heart. Yangpal suggests Seolchill go on an arranged date.

'PLEASE COME BACK, SOONAE'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Chan hates Soon-ae, who spirals into despair. In an attempt to get their bodies back, Soon-ae and Cho-eun intentionally get themselves in the same situations.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Il-seok fumes when he sees Hyun-woo drive away with Cho-eun. Soon-ae, Dae-sook and Jung-sook take Cho-eun to a karaoke to cheer her up.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 53 AND 54

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Mother is upset over Tae-joon's demotion, but Tae-joon decides to take his new post at the textile company. Mi-ja visits him at the dorm.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Tae-joon asks Mi-ja to get back together for the sake of their unborn baby, but Mi-ja demands divorce. Soo-kyong grows more rebellious toward Eun-hwan.

'IRELAND'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Buja invites Jae-bok to the house for his birthday dinner, and tells him she's found his sister. Jae-bok doesn't believe her. Joong-ah starts working at Dong-suk and Byung-ran's office.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Jae-bok starts working as a bodyguard. Jae-bok throws himself in front of a star to protect her from a stalker and winds up in the hospital.