honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, July 16, 2006

Red stickers mean it's government property

By Jeff Chung

The "Infamous Chill Sisters" each have a different personality.

spacer spacer

From time to time, Korean dramas include situations that make you ask — what's going on?

For example, if you watched the recently ended "Thank You, Life," the drama featured a group of men barging into homes sticking palm-sized red papers on furniture and other items around the house. Those men are from the court system and seize properties from people who have fallen into debt.

South Korean and American bankruptcy and property-seizure laws are similar, but the red-sticker treatment is uniquely Korean.

The husband who took on debt to pay for his wife's surgery in "Thank You, Life" wasn't able to pay his creditors, who went to court and had all his assets seized. The red papers are called "ap ryu tak-ji" which translates to "property seizure tag."

Once something is tagged with a red sticker, it's officially government property — the debtor can't use it. There is even sticker strategy. For example, the red paper is stuck on doors to prevent anyone from opening a closet or having access to items inside. Removing or tearing a red sticker is punishable by imprisonment or a hefty fine.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, call KBFD at 521-8066 or reach him at jeff chung@kbfd.com.



'CHILL SISTERS' CAUSE SWEAT FOR DAD WHO WANTED SON

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 1 AND 2

This new drama is about four sisters, whose names all end in "chil." Born to a soldier father who desperately wanted a son, each sister has a distinct personality.

First sister Deok-chil is an unhappily married housewife. She has a fling and gets a divorce, only to marry a man who's an even bigger headache.

Second sister Seol-chil, the pillar of the family, diligently pursued a military career to overcome her lack of beauty.

Mi-chil, Seol-chil's twin, is the black sheep of the family.

Jong-chil, the youngest sister, becomes pregnant as a teenager and marries her boyfriend.

STARRING: LEE TAE-RAN, KOH JOO-WON, CHOI JUNG-WON

The show airs at 7 p.m. on Sundays and re-airs at 2 p.m. on Mondays.

Tonight at 7: The story opens in the mid-1980s as Yangpal, the father of three girls, hopes his next child is a boy. But his wife gives birth to yet another girl. Fast forward 20 some years — Deok-chil is reluctantly married to an arranged date, Seok-chil has become a soldier, and her twin sister Mi-chil's biggest concern is her credit card debt.

Tonight at 8: Seol-chil is called to an emergency at the base, and stands her boyfriend Ilhan up. Ilhan hires an escort for a gathering, and Mi-chil shows up.

'SMILE AGAIN'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Dan-hee is upset when she sees Ha-jin and Yoo-kang at a party with her hometown friends. Ha-jin gets a dose of his own medicine when he finds Dan-hee's picture in Jae-myong's room.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Ha-jin decides to approach Chairman Yoon when Jae-myong takes the job as the softball team's coach.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 29 AND 30

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Tae-joon hears Mi-ja had visited his mother, and asks his mother to accept Mi-ja. Jung-ja gets dressed up to meet Mr. Hong.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-hwan's father and Tae-soo meet when Eun-hwan's father comes to the restaurant with his friends. Se-mi tells Mi-ja not to marry Tae-joon.

'ALONE IN LOVE'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Peeved after seeing Dong-jin and Yookyong together at their favorite hangout, Eun-ho punches Dong-jin. Joon-pyo professes his love for Ji-ho.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Dong-jin asks Yoo-kyong to marry him. Eun-ho contemplates what to do with Yoon-su's divorce papers.