The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, which ended Friday, was a big success, studded with stars from Hollywood and Asia. For fans of Korean film and television, the highlight was Lee Byung Hun (film critic Roger Ebert wrote a great article about him), who stars in the festival hit "A Bittersweet Life." His visit garnered prime-time coverage on KBS, Korea's largest television network station which recently aired five minutes on Lee at the festival signaling the growing popularity of Korean film.

I recently spoke with Korean film-industry leaders in town for the festival about trends in Korean cinema. One is the emergence of a crop of new stars. This year's top box-office smash hits all had one thing in common — no big names. "Welcome to Dongmakgol," "Marathon" and "Marrying the Mafia 2" didn't have a single A-list actor. The films' directors told me that their casts were not from their original wish lists. Korea's top actors were either already attached to a project or asked for budget-busting fees.

The success of the three movies has upped the price of the former B-list actors. I heard that the star of "Welcome to Dongmakgol," which also screened at HIFF, made about $100,000 for the movie. His asking price is now in the $300,000 range. The breakout hits prove a big name isn't a requirement for big box office.

Korean dramas are seeing a similar trend. Producers and directors face higher fees for known actors, and that may be why new faces are appearing on prime-time dramas.

Still, it's common for Korea's most popular actors to appear on the big and small screens, so you will see your favorite stars on TV again. Here's a tip: KBFD will soon begin airing "Wedded Bliss," a new drama starring local favorite Ryu Shi Won.

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.

HIGH ANXIETY, SECRET TOLD IN 'FAREWELL TO TEARS'

'A FAREWELL TO TEARS'

EPISODES 17 AND 18

Tonight at 7: Hae-sun and Jung-woo make a deal. Seo-young is worried her mom won't take to Jung-woo. Shocked when Jin-hee leaves home, Geum-sil leaks Il-ho's secret. Yeo-jin begins to wonder why her father was so against Sung-min. Do-jin tells Yeon-sim that Jung-woo is practically unemployed.

Tonight at 8: Jin-hee unwillingly returns home when Yeo-jin pleads with her. Sung-min tells Sung-kyu of Sung-jae's predicament, and Sung-min loans him money. Suh-young invites Jung-woo home to meet her parents. Yeo-jin asks Sung-min about Hae-sun.

'LOVERS IN PRAGUE'

EPISODES 3 AND 4

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Young-woo asks Jae-hee to start over, but Jae-hee tells him he's only a man from her past. Three months later, Jae-hee returns to Korea but she doesn't look up Sang-hyun, hoping to run into him by accident. Late for an appointment, Jae-hee makes an illegal U-turn and is pulled over, discovering the police officer is Sang-hyun.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Sang-hyun is dumbfounded when Jae-hee shows up at the police station to pay her fine. But the two run into Hae-joo as they walk out together. Hae-joo says she'd like to pay Sang-hyun back for her tuition, but Sang-hyun gets mad. Young-woo finds out Hae-joo's baby's father is his father.

'SECRET LOVERS'

EPISODES 7 AND 8

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Do-kyung and Young-koo, Young-jee's twin brother, end up working for Sung-wol's singing telegram service. At Joon-woo's arts center opening, Young-jee and Ah-mi meet Joon-mi, Joon-woo's sister. Joon-mi remembers Young-jee from the night when she hired Young-jee to drive her home after a drunken extramarital tryst and actively seeks to stop Joon-woo from dating Young-jee.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Do-kyung goes on a singing telegram assignment at Ah-mi's clinic. While dancing there, he faints. Ah-mi buys him some food, giving Do-kyung a chance to take her out to lunch. In the meantime, Young-jee is told by Joon-mi, Joon-woo's sister, to stop seeing him.

'REBIRTH'

EPISODES 15 AND 16

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Gang-ju finds out Shin-hyeok was staying at the Kangreung Hotel the night Ha-eun was killed. Shin-hyeok (Ha-eun) tells her to stop pursuing the story. In-chul begins to be suspicious of a sudden change in Shin-hyeok and questions Mr. Ahn, his assistant. On Gang-ju's birthday, Ha-eun, Jin-woo, Eun-ha and Gang-ju all sit down to her birthday dinner.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Sang-guk receives an anonymous letter and suspects Dong-chan. However Dong-chan believes Park Sang-chul sent the letter and tries to catch him. Gang-ju finds out Sang-guk was involved in the suicide case 20 years ago. Sang-guk finds out Tae-joon recommended Mureung Constructions to Steven Lee (Hee-soo).