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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 15, 2007

7-foot-2 Korean star coming here to battle

By Jeff Chung

Hong Man Choi, from South Korea, left, and Mighty Mo, from the United States, will be star attractions at the Blaisdell Arena on April 28.

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K-1 WORLD GRAND PRIX

Blaisdell Arena

6 p.m. April 28

Fighters: Hong Man Choi, Mighty Mo (U.S.), Remy Bonjasky (the Netherlands), Glaube Feitosa (Brazil), Badr Hari (Morocco) and Yusuke Fujimoto (Japan)

$40-$500

Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com, Times Super Markets, or by calling 591-2211.

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The biggest hallyu star is coming to Hawai'i this month. If you think I'm talking about Rain, Bae Yong Joon, Jang Dong Gun, Ryu Siwon, or Ahn Jae Wook, you're off by several feet and hundreds of pounds.

The answer is Hong Man Choi. Standing 7 feet 2 and weighing 365 pounds, he is literally South Korea's biggest hall-yu star. He squares off against Brock Lesnar in the K-1 Dynamite! mixed martial-arts series on April 28 at the Blaisdell Center.

Born in 1980, Hong Man Choi was a Korean wrestler before entering the K-1 kickboxing circuit. During his wrestling days, he was known as the Techno Goliath — for his dancing to techno music whenever he won a match. Can you imagine a 7-foot-2 man dancing to techno music? He created a media frenzy. Fans at matches would dance, too.

Hong Man is constantly on television — on comedies, variety shows and talk shows — but he has yet to make a Korean drama appearance.

I remember seeing a milk commercial on South Korean TV, in which Hong Man flexed his biceps while a girl about a third his size hung onto his arm, dangling in mid-air. It was like a kid climbing a tree.

On the K-1 circuit, Hong Man has changed his signature trademark from Techno Goliath to a persona closer to faded NBA star Dennis Rodman. Hong Man changes his hair color often — one match it's blue, the next it's yellow.

I once got into a taxi in Seoul, and the front passenger seat was positioned back as far as it could go. The cab driver apologized and explained that Hong Man Choi was his last fare. He had barely fit in the car. The cab driver also said he was impressed with Hong Man's politeness and courtesy.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 75 AND 76

Tonight at 7: Myongja tells Seolchil that the reason Hanam's mother approved of her marriage was because her birth mother pleaded with her in tears. But Seolchill refuses to attend her funeral. Michill refuses to go back home with Ilhan and he decides he'll stay with Michill at the hospital until she changes her mind.

Tonight at 8: Supyo and Chansoon have a simple wedding ceremony with just their families. Ilhan visits Chansoon in an attempt to clue her in on the fact that Supyo has never been with a woman before, but Chansoon fails to catch the drift.

'SURGEON BONG'

EPISODES 15 AND 16

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Moon-kyong is overcome with guilt when Kun-wook unleashes his bottled-up feelings. Dal-hee is relieved to hear her heart condition has improved. Joong-geun asks Dal-hee to go see a movie, but Dal-hee rejects him.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Joong-geun goes back to the OR and seems to have regained himself. Kun-wook sees Dal-hee giving herself a shot and offers to help. Kun-wook asks Dal-hee if she has feelings for Joong-geun, and when she fails to answer him, he tells her she and Joong-geun make a great couple.

'TO MY LOVE'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Suk-ju hears the news that Chan-ju has stolen Tae-ju's life savings. Suk-ju makes the fateful decision about Jung-min.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Suh-young invites all of the Yun siblings to live together. Suh-young's screenplay is selected in a contest run by Sung Ju Pictures.

'CRAZY FOR LOVE'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Moved by Chae-jun's work ethic and niceness, Jin-young works on his behalf to keep him from getting fired. Much to Hyeon-cheol's chagrin, Jin-young grows closer to Chae-jun. Min-hee, ever the realist, targets Hyeon-cheol after dumping Chae-jun.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Min-hee tells Hyeon-cheol that she's interested in him. Jin-young and Chae-jun discover that they were both orphans. Jin-young's adoptive grandmother begins the search for the whereabouts of the parents of the man Chae-jun accidentally killed.