Ang Lee, watch your "Brokeback" — South Korea's latest blockbuster, "The King and the Clown," is breaking all kinds of records. Like "Brokeback Mountain," this historical drama touches on the subject of homosexuality. Unlike the sheepherder film, "The King and the Clown" is on track to become South Korea's biggest box-office hit.

As of Feb. 20, after 54 days in theaters, 11 million people had seen "The King and the Clown," making it only the third movie in South Korea's history to reach this milestone. "Tae-gukgi" holds the viewer attendance record at 11,746,135. More than one in four Koreans have seen "The King and the Clown," which has projected revenues in excess of $500 million.

Talk about an underdog provenance: Besides dealing with what in South Korea is a taboo topic, "The King and the Clown" had a measly $4 million budget (versus $14 million for "Taegukgi"), and no name-brand director or A-list actors. The drama period piece bucks the big-budget film trend at a time when the industry is demonstrating against the reduction of screen quota for domestic films in theaters.

The cast of relative unknowns — Kam Woo-seong, Jeong Jin-yeong, Kang Seong-yeon and Lee Joon-ki — are already in demand for future films. (You can see them at the Korean-language www.kingsman.co.kr.

What's all the fuss? The period drama is about a clown hired to make fun of Yeonsangun, the 10th king of the Joseon period, who reigned from 1494 to 1506. The clown, Kong-gil, is a pretty, effeminate man involved in a triangle between the king and a fellow performer. The tale is not based on a true story.

In South Korea, the film's success has had a cultural impact: The gentle, soft male is now more accepted versus the traditional roles played in Korean dramas. Call it pretty-boy syndrome. It's seeing the rise of a new consumer segment — men are buying cosmetics and exploring aesthetic and plastic surgery! Korean men are no longer buying just skin lotion and facial cream; they are now into anti-aging creams, foundation, and general skin-care products. Men are now going under the knife, primarily for double-eyelid and nose jobs. Men are giving the Korean cosmetic industry a boost.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises all of these K-dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, call KBFD at 521-8066 or write him at jeffchung@kbfd.com.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMAS

'A FAREWELL TO TEARS'

EPISODES 47 AND 48

Tonight at 7 p.m.: Yeo-jin needs surgery for her brawl injuries.

Tonight at 8 p.m.: Tae-bok questions Hae-sun and Jung-woo's relationship.

'MY GIRL'

EPISODES 1 AND 2

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: In this new drama, Yoo-rin first meets Gong-chan on a plane.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Gong-chan asks Yoo-rin to help him find Jung-woo.

'KNOCKED OUT BY LOVE'

EPISODES 7 AND 8

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Bok-gu is injured trying to protect Eun-seok.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Bok-gu saves Eun-suk in a motorcycle accident.

'SWEET SPY'

EPISODES 19 AND 20

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Soon-ae gives Yoo-il the cold shoulder.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Police chase Yoo-il to the harbor.