Resort isle Jeju a glamour spot for K-drama
By Jeff Chung
| |||
|
|||
Last week, I wrote about tours to Korean-drama film locations. Here are more spots to see if you're a fan of "All In" and "Summer Scent."
Lee Byung-hun, one of Hawai'i's favorite actors, and Song Hye-gyo were key to the the success of "All In." The show had record ratings in Seoul and also was broadcast in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Byung-hun played Kim In-ha, the orphan who falls in love with Min Su-yeon, played by Hye-gyo. In-ha is accused of murder and flees to the United States, only to return as a gambler working in a casino on Jeju Island, where many of the drama's scenes were shot. South of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju is a popular resort destination for people from all over Asia.
At the Jeju Lotte Hotel, on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is the famous Dutch windmill where Su-yeon gives a gift to In-ha. The hotel's lobby lounge is where Su-yeon runs into In-ha after many years.
The Hyatt Regency Jeju starred as the Sea World Hotel in "All In." Jeong Won, the hotel's owner, falls in love with Su-yeon, creating the love triangle. On the 11th floor is the suite where Jeong Won tries to tell Su-yeon how he feels. The Island Lounge is where Su-yeon has too much to drink and Jeong Won carries her back to his suite.
Stop by the city's International Convention Center — the second floor was the setting for In-ha's office, which had views of the Jungmun resort on Jeju's southern coast. The Jungmun Golf Club is where Byung-hun's character learns to golf.
"Summer Scent," the third series for producer Yun Seok-ho, aired in 2003 and stars Song Seung-heon as Yu Min-woo and Sohn Ye-jin as Shim Hye-won.
Min-woo and Hye-won meet for the second time at the Boseong Tea Garden, in Jeollanam-do province. This location is popular for its cedar-lined walkways and green tea fields. Deogyusan National Park, in Gyeongsangnam-do province, is where Min-woo and Hye-won met for the first time. Producer Yun Seok-ho will be working on his final and fourth series this spring.
This week marks Valentine's Day. In the U.S., it's when men pamper women with dinner and flowers. But in Korea, Feb. 14 is a day on which women give men chocolates.
The Korean equivalent of Valentine's Day doesn't come until March 14 — White Day. Here's a handy phrase for the event: "Sa-rang he-yo," which means "I love you."
Jeff Chung is the general manager of KBFD, which televises all of these K-dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, call KBFD at 521-8066 or write him at jeffchung@kbfd.com.
JUNG JI-HOON STARS IN NEW 'KNOCKED OUT BY LOVE'
'A FAREWELL TO TEARS'
EPISODES 45 AND 46
Tonight at 7: Jung-woo comes back to work at the noodle factory. Sung-jae and his wife are worried when Eun-hui, Sung-kyu's wife, stops coming around. However, Sung-kyu refuses to go home. Yeo-jin begs Hee-sook not to leave Sung-min for Dong-ha's sake. Yeon-shim begins to open up to Jung-woo.
Tonight at 8: When Ki-bum finds out Tae-bok has given Min-joo a large sum of money as a wedding gift, he decides to follow Tae-bok. Il-ho tries to expand his business in the U.S., but runs into cash-flow problems. Kang-jae tries to arrange a meeting with Sung-mi.
'TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE'
EPISODES 11 AND 12
Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Young-hoon holds a news conference to help Eun-young. Soo-min tries to stop him. Jin-ha goes to the news conference and tells everyone he'd take full responsibility, and that he cares for Eun-young. Two months later, Young-hoon disappears, and Eun-young goes to look for him.
Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-young confesses her feelings for Young-hoon, but he tells her he's got nothing to offer her. Jin-ha is stunned when he hears that Eun-young went to look for Young-hoon. Jin-ha offers Young-hoon an endorsement deal and tells him not to fish for Eun-young's sympathy.
'KNOCKED OUT BY LOVE'
EPISODES 1 AND 2
Korean superstar Jung Ji-hoon, aka Bi, stars in this new 16-episode drama as rebellious orphan Bok-koo, who becomes a kickboxer. (On Feb. 3, Bi became the first solo Korean music artist to perform at New York's Madison Square Garden — to a sold-out crowd.)
Bok-koo takes a job as a bodyguard to seek revenge on an actress who broke his brother's heart. Shin Min-ah, from "Beautiful Days," is Cha Eun-seok, the actress. Also in the cast is Lee Ki-woo, who was here for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival last October for the opening-night screening of "Sad Movie."
Airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:50 p.m., re-airs Thursdays and Fridays at 3 p.m.
Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Even though kickboxer Bok-koo is always in sweats and his face is covered with cuts and bruises, women adore him. But for Bok-koo, there's only one woman — Da-jung, who saved him from a fire 10 years ago. Cha Eun-seok, a famous actress, leads a lonely life after her boyfriend of five years suddenly disappears.
Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Bok-koo is reunited with his long-lost older brother, only to see him face a life-challenging accident. Can Min-koo's life be saved? Bok-koo finds out Min-koo used to go out with Eun-seok and assumes he tried to kill himself after Eun-seok betrayed him.
'SWEET SPY'
EPISODES 13 AND 14
Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Soon-ae is scared at the sight of wounded Yoo-il, who orders Soon-ae to stitch up his wounds. Porcupine blames Soon-ae for putting Yoo-il in danger and gives her an ultimatum. Kang Joon decides to tell the media about the document.
Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Yoo-il brings Soon-ae back to his place and apologizes for putting a bug in her watch. He tells Soon-ae to never leave him again. Kang Joon and his department are under investigation for spreading false rumors about Song Hyun-chul and Chung Bum-jin. Kang Joon is suspended, and Un-joo takes over his position.