What happens when you cross an amusement park with a school campus? In South Korea's Gyeonggi province, you get English Villages.

English Villages are intensive language-immersion projects, where students learn our language without leaving their own country.

The purpose behind the government-supported English Villages is to give Koreans competitiveness in the global environment by improving their English skills. The strategy is to learn through education, experience and entertainment.

Not everyone in South Korea can afford to send their children to after-school English classes, let alone abroad to study in America or Britain. The English Villages simulate that experience without leaving South Korea.

The first English Village opened in August 2004, in the city of Ansan, on nearly 46 acres.

Various four-week programs immerse participants in the English language; the programs also come as weekly, weekend or one-day versions, and are mainly for students in middle school.

Schools, not students, send in recommendations for who gets into the program; individuals can't apply by themselves. Once accepted, students pick a major of their choice — drama, art, music or science — to study. All the teachers in the English Villages teach in English, their native tongue.

When students first arrive at an English Village, they have to go through "immigration" and get a village passport, which will allow passage into classes. Everyone at the village is expected to speak English at all times. Students can visit the post office, library, clinic, bank and even a broadcasting studio, where they can create short movies.

Recently, the city of Paju added a $90 million English Village that covers nearly 70 acres. It can hold 700 students — more than triple that of Ansan Village. Paju Village opened in April and has already seen more than 40,000 students in one month.

Paju has a theme: Newly constructed buildings and streets resemble a town in England, right down to a tram that travels up and down the main street.

Facilities include a city hall, police station, cafes, restaurants and plazas.

English Villages are priced to be affordable, but if students still find it above their budget are subsidized. The South Korean government plans to build nearly 40 English Villages around the country.

English Villages aren't just used for teaching: Several dramas used Paju Village as a backdrop, because of its English atmosphere.

"What's Your Star?," which airs on KBFD on Mondays and Tuesdays, starring Kim Rae Won and Jung Ryuh-won, filmed many scenes at Paju Village. In fact, it's where their characters first kissed, in front of the concert hall last Monday, during Episode 9.

Note: This week starts a new drama, "Alone in Love." The 16-episode story follows Dong-jin and Eun-ho, a couple who remain friends after their divorce. Although the two get into arguments when they meet, they continue to run into each other. Joon-pyo is Dong-jin's best friend who tirelessly tries to get Dong-jin and Eun-ho together with a little help from Ji-ho, Eun-ho's younger sister. But Joon-pyo's plan to get them together runs into a little snag when Hyung-joon shows up. The first episode airs Friday, and it will run Fridays and Saturdays; it is rerun Saturday and Sunday at noon. "Alone in Love" stars Gam Woo-sung of the South Korean box-office hit "King and the Clown" and Son Ye-jin of "Summer Scent" and "A Moment to Remember," as well as Gong Hyung-jin.

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

NEW SHOW, 'ALONE IN LOVE,' DEBUTS THIS WEEK

'THANK YOU, LIFE'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Tonight at 7: Yoon-ho realizes In-seok is Yeon-kyong's old boyfriend. Yoon-ho becomes suspicious of In-seok's relationship with Yeon-kyong. Yoon-ho gets furious when he hears a message In-seok left for Yeon-kyong.

Tonight at 8: Yoon-ho and In-seok get into an argument. Yoon-ho is still angry with Yeonkyong. His misunderstanding grows when he sees In-seok standing outside Yeon-kyong's office.

'WHAT'S YOUR STAR'

EPISODES 11 AND 12

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Seung-hee and Bok-shil confirm their love, but the two still feel awkward around each other. Bok-shil is touched by Seung-hee's caring side. Bok-shil's mother finds out about Bok-shil's feelings for Seung-hee, and grounds her, but Bok-shil asks Jung-woo to help her.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Seung-hee goes down on his knees to beg Bok-shil's mom for forgiveness. Bok-shil tells her mother she's marrying Seung-hee. Bok-shil runs away from home to Seung-hee's place. Rumors surrounding Seung-hee start to circulate.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 17 AND 18

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Mi-ja is disappointed when she doesn't win the best-actress award, and takes out her frustration on director Kim and Hae-joo. Tae-soo is miserable in his married life with Jung-ja, and he is relieved and saddened at the same time when he hears that Eun-hwan is still not married.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Mi-ja is devastated when Hae-joo tells her of director Kim's sudden death in Hong Kong. Tae-joon feels betrayed when she sees Mi-ja wailing at the funeral. Mi-ja is overcome with regret that she didn't sincerely love Kim, who loved her so much.

'ALONE IN LOVE'

EPISODES 1 AND 2

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Dong-jin and Eun-ho are a divorced couple who still have dinner together on their wedding anniversary. The two are somehow getting along as friends, and run into each other often at their favorite hangouts. Dong-jin runs into Hyung-joong, who was a banquet manager at their wedding, and decides to set him up with Eun-ho. He asks for Eun-ho's number.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-ho is disappointed when Dong-jin brings Hyun-joong to the meeting where she was about to tell him she wants to start over again. Hyun-joong shows up the next day at Eun-ho's gym. Eun-ho becomes suspicious of Hyun-joong when her underwear disappears from her locker.