The Korean folktale "Jang Hwa Hong Ryun" from the Joseon period was made into a movie in 2003, and a new small-screen version debuts at 9:30 p.m. tonight as "Love and Obsession."

Jang Hwa (Rose Flower) Hong Ryun (Red Lotus) is a folk story about two sisters. Jang Hwa falls victim to a murderous scheme by their cruel stepmother and her body is thrown into a pond. Soon after, Hong Ryun commits suicide to join her sister. They return as ghosts to reveal the truth about Jang Hwa's death. After the truth is revealed, the father remarries for a third time and has twin girls, supposedly Jang Hwa and Hong Ryun. They live happily thereafter.

In 2003, director Kim Ji Woon ("The Good, The Bad and The Weird," "Bittersweet Life") made one of the highest-grossing horror films in South Korea: "Jang Hwa Hong Ryun: A Tale of Two Sisters." The psychological thriller did so well at the box office that DreamWorks made an American version and released it earlier this year as "The Uninvited," starring Emily Browning and Arielle Kebbel.

The TV series based on the folktale translates as "Love and Obsession" in English. In Honolulu, KBFD will show it at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The two women in this series do not play sisters but close friends. Kim Se-A plays Jang Hwa, a stunning woman who enjoys a perfect marriage and luxurious life. Yoon Hae Young (Hong Ryun), a deprived single mother, dreams of having a happy life of her own, but this modest hope is not easy for her.

The two friends confront each other as Jang Hwa abandons her mother-in-law, who is suffering from dementia, and Hong Ryun starts to look after her.

THIS WEEK’S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'BRILLIANT LEGACY'

Episodes 15 and 16
Tonight at 7:45 p.m.: Hwan finds Eun-sung's family picture in Seung-mi's bag. Seung-mi tells him Eun-sung asked to keep their relationship a secret. Hwan's mom talks to Jun-se about marrying Jung. Jun-se tells her there's someone else. Jung finds Eun-sung with Jun-se at his place, fanning her hatred of Eun-sung.

Tomorrow at 7:45: p.m.: Jun-se professes his feelings to Eun-sung, but she tells him she can't think of anything else until she finds her brother. Grandma is disappointed when she finds out Jun-se is in love with Eun-sung. Eun-sung's stay at Hwan's gets even worse when everyone finds out Jun-se has feelings for Eun-sung.

'DARE TO LOVE'

Episodes 17 and 18
Sunday at 6:45 p.m.: On a trip, Sul-ran bumps into her trainer, Mr. Jang. Soon-shin asks Gum-ran to get married. Jang-mi hears all of it. Sul-ran's parents confront her about her situation with Soo-nam. Poong-ran and Yong-ha become closer and Sae-dol is getting nervous.

Sunday at 7:45 p.m.: Soo-nam gets drunk and tells his in-laws exactly how he feels. Sul-ran's dad gets involved. Sul-ran keeps finding out more about herself with the help of her trainer. Poong-ran starts having feelings for Yong-ha. Bong-sun keeps trying to help Denny with his career. Jang-mi tries to find out if Soon-shin is her dad.

'PRINCESS JAMYUNG'

Episodes 30 and 31
Monday at 7:45 p.m.: King Choi Li and and his court are divided over Jamyung's fate. In an attempt to save Jamyung's life, Wang Hol proposes marriage to Jamyung, and the king and the queen are delighted. Hodong escapes to Nakrang to see Puku and ends up traveling with Ilpum and Cha Chasung.

Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.: Wang Hol asks Jamyung to kill Hodong for the sake of Nakrang. Jamyung lures Hodong to meet her so Wang Hol can kill him. Lahee learns that Hodong is in Nakrang and goes to rescue him. Hodong is banished to Jolbon for defying the king's order. Jamyung is sentenced to death for killing Nakrang's people.

'CITY HALL'

Episodes 13 and 14
Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.: Mi-rae ruffles feathers by threatening to scrap the plans to relocate city hall, and the department directors make a statement by resigning as a group. Guk launches his campaign for the National Assembly, while Big Brother proceeds with a mysterious plan to build something in Inju.

Thursday at 7:45 p.m.: Mi-rae finds that the former mayor's signature was forged on a key document pertaining to the relocation of city hall and uses this as leverage to negotiate with her political enemies. Now that Guk is campaigning for the National Assembly seat, he and Mi-rae must meet in secret to avoid suspicion of political impropriety.