South Korea’s new political crime thriller, “The King,” will be released in Hawaii this Friday at the Consolidated Theatres Pearlridge 16. K-drama megastars “In Sung Jo,” (“A Frozen Flower,” “A Dirty Carnival,” “Spring Day,” “What Happened in Bali” and “Piano”)
South Korea’s new political crime thriller, “The King,” will be released in Hawaii this Friday at the Consolidated Theatres Pearlridge 16.
K-drama megastars “In Sung Jo,” (“A Frozen Flower,” “A Dirty Carnival,” “Spring Day,” “What Happened in Bali” and “Piano”) and “Woo Sung Jung,” (HIFF 2008, “Athena: The Goddess of War,” “Asura,” “Scarlet Innocence,” “The Good, the Bad, the Weird,” “Daisy,” “Musa” and “A Moment to Remember”) are teaming up to portray the power and wealth South Korean prosecutors can wield.
This film comes at a time when Korea’s judicial system is under scrutiny tied to a star prosecutor turned lawyer for the rich, used his influence on his former associates to get his clients lenient sentences while amassing tremendous wealth. And a chief judge turned lawyer who took unreasonable exorbitant fees to lobby for her client. Both were eventually indicted and sentenced.
“The King” is about Tae-soo played by Jo, who is from a poor family becomes a prosecutor but finds life is not what he had imagined until he meets handsome and charismatic Kang-sik played by Jung, who wields power and wealth. Tae-soo gets to see how the 1 percent lives and tastes its sweetness and luxury but also finds its dark and cruel side of life. “The King” is directed by Jae Rim Han who also directed “The Face Reader” and “Rules of Dating.”
Upcoming Episodes:
‘Perfect Bride’
Episodes 23 & 24
Today, 6:30 p.m.: Ki-ja warns Gab-soon to stay away from Gab-dol. Ha-soo sees Gab-soon being chided and takes her away. He professes his feelings for her. Gab-soon is moved by Ha-soo’s sincerity. Geum-shik and Da-hae go together on their daughter’s kindergarten camping trip, as Jae-soon anxiously awaits Geum-shik’s return.
Today, 7:45 p.m.: Geum-shik is caught off-guard by Jae-soon’s icy demeanor. He goes to Jae-soon’s parents’ to ask for her forgiveness. Gab-soon is faced with Gab-dol’s cold demeanor, and makes an important decision.
‘Dr. Romantic’
Episodes 15 & 16
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Hyun-jung comes to Doldam to stop Chairman Shin’s heart surgery. But she is shocked by the seriousness of Chairman Shin’s condition. When Gi-tae becomes suspicious of their relationship, Dong-joo and Seo-jung feign distaste of each other by fighting.
Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Teacher Kim pushes ahead with Chairman Shin’s surgery. He searches for a way to shorten the surgery time. Dong-joo does his best as Teacher Kim’s assistant to achieve this. Chief Do comes to Teacher Kim with two propositions.
‘Legend of the Blue Sea’
Episodes 15 & 16
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Joon-jae is devastated to learn that Chung’s heart will fail. He tries to tell her about his dream. Chung sets a date as her birthday, and invites friends over for a party.
Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Joon-jae and Yoo-ran meet again and catch up. Curious about Kang Ji-hyun, Nam-doo asks Yoo-ran about her. Chi-hyun presses Seo-hee about her birth father.
‘Happy Home’
Episode 24 & 25
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Mi-soon says she’ll go to hell and back to have her kids again. Sam-bong says she can kiss her chance goodbye if she fails to do so within three months.
Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Sook-nyo sees Hae-ryung and Ji-gun together, and asks Hae-ryung if Ji-gun is why she’s happy lately. Hae-ryung says that Ji-gun is her source of strength. Sun-hwa goes to see Mi-soon and the family is shocked to find that out. Hae-ryung finds a baby book on Hae-won’s bed.
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Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. This column offers synopses of the dramas playing throughout Hawaii. Chung can be reached at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
