The Korean film industry got a huge boost when South Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon received the best actress award last month at the Cannes Film Festival for "Secret Sunshine" ("Milyang"). Jeon is the first Korean to ever nab a Cannes prize for best actress and only the second Asian to win the award. (Hong Kong's Maggie Cheung got it in 2004 for "Clean.")

This is great news for the South Korean film industry, which faces rising production costs, increased foreign-film competition and declining box office attendance.

In "Secret Sunshine," Shinae, played by Jeon, leaves Seoul after her unfaithful husband dies in a car accident. With her son, she settles in Milyang, the town where her late husband was born. In a society that looks down on single mothers, Shinae faces hardship. Her misery is multiplied when her son is abducted. Shinae has a suitor — an auto mechanic played by Song Kang Ho, who attended the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2002 for his film "YMCA Baseball Team."

"Secret Sunshine" was written and directed by veteran Lee Chang Dong, whose films include "Peppermint Candy" and "Oasis." He also served as the Korean Culture Minister before directing "Secret Sunshine."

Jeon Do-yeon is no stranger to Hawai'i residents — she has been in many TV series ("Lovers in Prague," "Shoot for the Stars") that have broadcast here as well as films that have screened at HIFF ("My Mother the Mermaid," "You Are My Sunshine"). Born in 1973, Jeon worked as a model before becoming an actress.

Jeff Chung is the 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.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'DEAR LOVER'

EPISODES 9 AND 10

Tonight at 7: When their flight back to Seoul is cancelled, Dong-woo and Ae-young check into a hotel then take the rescheduled flight a few hours later. After learning Ae-young lied to him about going to Pusan for work, Hyun-suk searches the office for the letter again and finds out that she wrote a letter addressed to "Dearest Friend.'

Tonight at 8: Chul shows up to see Ae-young with flowers. Hyun-suk follows her around all day but sees nothing out of the ordinary and decides not to be suspicious of her anymore. Dong-woo tells Ae-young that Hyun-suk thinks she's having an affair and tells her that they should end their relationship.

'WITCH MA'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Mu-ryong rejects Seung-mi's marriage proposal. When Seung-mi picks up Yu-hee's call to Mu-ryong, she tells her she's marrying Mu-ryong. Johnny and Mu-ryong overhear Chairman Ma telling Joon-ha to rush the wedding.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Muryong tells Yu-hee he's not marrying Seung-mi. Dumbstruck, Yu-hee goes after him. Joon-ha finds out Yu-hee and Mu-ryong are at her place and sparks fly.

'FATHER'S SEA'

(Two-part series)

Wednesday and Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Synopsis not available for this two-part series.

'BLUE FISH'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Hyun-wu sees Eun-su at a department store and runs after her, but Eun-su tells him he has the wrong person. Dong-hyuk proposes marriage to Eun-su in a roundabout way. After dropping Eun-su off at home, Dong-hyuk goes to Jin-hee's.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Hyun-wu is preoccupied with thoughts of Eun-su, and his co-workers are worried about him. Eun-su's aunt pressures Eun-su to marry Dong-hyuk. Dong-hyuk orders a background check on Hyun-wu.