HIFF, KBFD present Korean film festival next weekend

It's common to see multiple generations living under the same roof in Korean dramas.

In the United States, some people can't wait until they turn 18, when they are legally classified as an adult and free to move out of the house.

In Korean dramas, you will usually see the grandparents, parents and children all living together. It's not unusual to see children in their 30s and 40s taking care of the their parents.

For one thing, it's cultural. As old Confucius' teachings go, you respect your elders and should take care of them. In modern-day Korea, there are those who follow this, and those who don't. More people are now living on their own separately from their parents. Some grandparents prefer to live on their own, as well.

Also, economics could have played a role. The senior-living and care-home industry was not well-developed in Korea. The facilities that were up to par with America's were costly, and not many could afford that option.

Often, new real estate development is for single-family homes and isn't large enough for multigenerations.

Who would be responsible for taking care of the parents?

If you are the only child, you would be responsible. But if there are sons and daughters, the role generally falls to the first son to look after the parents. Thus, the first son is usually the primary beneficiary of the family's inheritance.

If the first son is not able to look after the parents, then the second son has the responsibility. If there is no second son, then the eldest daughter has that responsibility.

Catch a sense of this on "My Sweetheart" that airs from 10:25 to 11 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. The newlywed couple are expected to live with the son's mother. Naturally, the bride's parents object, but ultimately, it is her decision to live with her in-laws.

She does her best to get along and fit in with the family, but tension and misunderstandings always occur. There was a point in the series where conflicts concluded in the mother disappearing for a few days; she finally returns to allow the children to move out. The daughter-in-law found out by eavesdropping that the only joy the mother had was when her son made her laugh and cry; both made her feel alive. The daughter-in-law didn't want his mother to be lonely and decided to stay.

FIRST-EVER K-FEST

On another note: The Hawaii International Film Festival, along with KBFD, will present the first K-Fest, a Korean film festival set for next weekend featuring seven Korean films.

K-Fest will be held Friday through Aug. 21 at The Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Kim Sun-ah of our Wednesday-Thursday drama, "My Lovely Sam-soon," can be spotted in "She's on Duty," a movie that screens at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Daily drama star Lee Bo-young stars with Won Bin in "My Brother," screening the next night. Get the complete listing and information for K-Fest at www.hiff.org.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises all of the K-dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, call KBFD at 521-8066.

SOO-HAN TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS ON 'MR HOUSEWIFE'

By Jeff Chung

'MR. HOUSEWIFE'

(episodes 15 and 16)

6:50 tonight: Mina accuses Soo-han of having an affair with Yoo-jin. She goes to Yoo-jin's to confront her, and Byung-woo walks in on them. Suk-joon suggests Soo-han to start a business with him, and Soo-han tries to come up with money to start a business.

8 p.m. tonight: Mina and Soo-han agree to take some time apart and Soo-han moves in with Suk-joon. Soo-han's father lends money to Soo-han to open a new restaurant. Soo-han and Mina attend Song-yi's school function and have a good time.

'FASHION 70S'

(episodes 11 and 12)

7:50 p.m. tomorrow: Duh-mi begs for a job at Taeul Textile and meets her father, but they don't recognize each other. Bin saves her from shady characters and brings her to the house. She is thrown out when she's caught trying on Bin's mother's design. Duh-mi gets a job working as a clerk at a wholesale store in a market. Joon-hee begs Mrs. Chang to take her on as a student at her design school.

7:50 p.m. Tuesday: Dong-young calls New York, trying to get more information about the real Joon-hee. Dong-young tells Joon-hee that there's someone else. Bin invites Duh-mi to his birthday celebration, where Dong-young and Joon-hee join him. Duh-mi shows up while Bin's not there and Dong-young sees her but she doesn't see him. Duh-mi goes to Bin's house to give him a present.

'MY LOVELY SAM-SOON'

(episodes 7 and 8)

7:50 p.m. Wednesday: Jin-hun and Sam-soon arrive at Jeju to attend the grand opening ceremony of Jin-hun's family's hotel. Hyun-woo and Chae-ri are also there, and Jin-hun and Hyun-woo get into a fistfight over Sam-soon.

7:50 p.m. Thursday: Sam-soon is worried when Jin-hun doesn't call or come to work after coming back from Jeju. In the meantime, Jin-hun is with Hee-jin at the hospital, getting her regular checkup. Yi-young tries to stop Sam-soon from seeing Jin-hun.

'EMPEROR OF THE SEA'

(episodes 49 and 50)

7:50 p.m. Friday: Madam Jami is captured and brought to Jang Bogo. She defiantly tells Jang Bogo it's not over yet, but she pleads with Yum Moon to help her. Jung-hwa begs Jang Bogo to forgive Madam Jami. Kim Yang, afraid Jang Bogo will overpower him, tells Yum Moon to kill Jang Bogo.

7:50 p.m. Saturday: Jang Bogo rushes to the imperial city at the news of the king's death. Suspicious of the king's sudden death, Jang Bogo investigates the cause of his death. Kim Yang rallies the nobles against Jang Bogo.