Another hallyu star has been booked for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival this year.

Ha Ji Won will ride the hallyu, or Korean wave, when she attends opening night of the film festival on Thursday.

She's well-known in Hawai'i for the hit TV series "Female Detective Damo," which launched the period-piece portion of her career.

As a frequent visitor to the Islands, she's making a short trip to the film festival. Departure is set for Saturday, since she must return to production on a new TV series, "Hwang Jin-I," which began broadcasting Wednesdays and Thursdays last week. "Hwang Jin-I" is a KBS period series directed by Kim Cheol-gyu and written by Yoo Seon-joo.

What's it about: Hwang Jin is a famous kisaeng (similar to Japanese geisha) in the Joseon period who was known for her skills in musical instruments and entertainment.

In the TV drama, Ha Ji Won wears a gachae, or heavy wig, that takes a toll on her neck. We also know she's practicing playing the gayageum, a 12-string Korean harp, and her fingers are bruised and blistered from practice. She is even training as a tight-rope walker.

Interesting aside: Song Hye Gyo will also play Hwang Jin in a film with the same title that starts filming this month, so expect to see the two hallyu stars go head to head.

Here in Hawai'i for the film festival, efforts are under way to show Ha Ji Won's film, "The Duelist," in which she plays a detective who is after a counterfeiting operation in another period piece, with her in attendance.

Before her success in "Damo," she was known as the scary face in the horror films "Gawi" and "Phone." She was seen in Hawai'i in "Secret" as Lee Ji-eun, co-starring Kim Ha-neul, Ryu Shi-won and Kim Min-jong in 2000; and in the series "Something Happened in Bali" as Erika Lee in 2004. In 2005 came "The Duelist."

In "The Duelist," a Joseon Dynasty period film, Ha Ji Won chases after a skilled swordsman, the title character played by Kang Dong Won. The duelist is part of a crime gang who mint coins in a counterfeit ring; the police are attempting to crack down on the crime. Ha Ji Won and the duelist are matched in swordsmanship and love ensues.

Some fun facts about Ha Ji Won: She was born in Seoul on Feb. 21, 1978, and is 5-feet-6.

See www.hiff.org for updates on "The Duelist" screening and other information.

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

MARRIAGE PROPOSAL, LOVE CONFESSIONS ON 'CHILL SISTERS'

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 27 AND 28

Tonight at 7: Seolchill is swayed by Hanam's heartfelt confessions of his love for her, but she turns him down with piercing words. Taeja and Jongchill come back to Yangpal's from their honeymoon but are summoned by Taeja's mother during dinner.

Tonight at 8: Ilhan proposes to Michill, and Michill delivers the good news to her family. Supyo is unhappy with Ilhan's decision to marry Michill, and tells Yangpal he can't approve of their marriage. Chansoon's strict discipline of Jongchill continues, but Taeja is out partying, unaware of Jongchill's hardship at home.

'PLEASE COME BACK, SOON-AE'

EPISODES 15 AND 16

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Cho-eun and Soon-ae find no luck at the temple but do have the same dream about the old man. Cho-eun decides to accept what's happened and tells Soon-ae that she's going to do her best to accept reality. Both Cho-eun and Il-seok are terminated because of the affair rumor.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Cho-eun and Soon-ae are singing together at the party thrown by Dae-sook when their souls find the right bodies, and they're back to their old selves. They each go back to their own homes. Il-seok still thinks Soon-ae is Cho-eun pretending to be Soon-ae.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 55 AND 56

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-hwan gives birth to a son. Unhappy with the news, Soo-kyong goes to see Jung-ja, but Jung-ja only tells her to behave better. Mi-ja's pregnancy makes it to the tabloids and the father is reported to be Mr. Yim. However, Tae-joon shows up at the hospital on the day of Mi-ja's delivery and quiets all rumors.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Tae-joon informs his mother of his divorce, and tells the family not to interfere in Mi-ja's life before he leaves on a long business trip. Fast forward four years, Tae-soo's construction business is booming, but Mother is disappointed with Tae-joon, who hasn't returned.

'IRELAND'

EPISODES 7 AND 8

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Joong-ah goes to Bu-ja's house but turns back when she sees Sung-man. Mr. Park asks Kook to return to work, but he refuses. Jae-bok finds out Joong-ah quit her job at the hospital, and asks Kook about her.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Kook finds out about Joong-ah and Jae-bok. But he tells Joong-ah she's fooling around with Jae-bok because she's not well. Si-yeon is overjoyed with the fact that she'll be starring in a real movie, but she can't escape the casting couch.