What do the dramas "Stairway to Heaven," "All In," "Lovers in Paris," "Something Happened in Bali," "Alone in Love" and the current "Lovers" all have in common?

They're all SBS hits.

Founded in 1990 by construction tycoon Yon Se-Young, the Seoul Broadcast System is one of South Korea's three large networks, along with MBC and KBS.

SBS, owned by Yon Se-Young's Tae Young Corp., operates a national terrestrial station as well as three radio stations and four cable and satellite channels. As the youngest of the three networks, SBS is South Korea's most independent media outlet.

KBS, the Korean Broadcasting System, is owned by the South Korean government, receives government money and collects revenue from a mandatory television license fee. MBC, Munhwa Broadcasting Corp., is 70 percent owned by the Foundation of Broadcast Culture, which was established by the National Assembly of Korea to prohibit government influence over the company. MBC does not receive government money.

KBFD airs SBS hallyu programming, and the Korean network has another Hawai'i tie, as sponsor of the SBS LPGA Open at Turtle Bay Resort, the first LPGA event of the year, to be held Feb. 12 to 17. SBS will broadcast the event in South Korea.

In recent years, South Korean golfers such as Seri Pak, Grace Park, Kim Mi Hyun and Jeong Jang have made a strong showing on the LPGA Tour. And, of course, there's the Korean-American Michelle Wie.

In South Korea, where golf is very popular, the LPGA broadcasts sometimes get higher TV ratings than PGA events.

People have often asked me why Korean female golfers are so good and why they are suddenly showing up on the LPGA. I don't have the answer; nor have I been able to get answers from Korean executives.

Hallyu stars have been known to show up at the SBS Open. Actor Kim Min Jong, who starred in the drama "Guardian Angel," attended last year.

As part of the celebration, SBS holds a dinner and show following the pro-am draw party (an event where amateurs pick the pros they will play with the next day). Last year, SBS invited South Korea's famous fashion designer Andre Kim to hold a private fashion show with a few LPGA players modeling his collection. (Jung Joon Ho was on stage sporting Kim's designs.)

Kim and SBS also held a second fashion show to benefit the University of Hawai'i fashion and design program in lieu of KBFD's 20th anniversary.

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

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 51 AND 52

Tonight at 7: Deokchill asks Seontaek to marry her. Myongja opposes the idea of Deokchill getting hitched. Deokchill's mention of marriage causes a teary argument between Myongja and her mother.

Tonight at 8: Michill is furious Ilhan called Seolchill while he was drunk. Seolchill goes to her birth mother's house. Seontaek finds out his daughters were locked out while Shinja was gambling at her house.

'LOVERS'

EPISODES 9 AND 10

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Miju prepares for the holidays. Kang-jae confronts Chang-bae. Chairman Kang pressures Kang-jae to work for the company and leave the life of a gangster.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Kang-jae starts working at the office and asks that he be assigned to Mr. Baek's department. Kang-jae meets Miju to apologize for the past evening's incident, and Miju tells him that she knows it was a mistake.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODE 81 (FINALE)

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Years have passed, and Hoon is back from the States with his son, after a divorce. Jung-ja is living with Bong-jin, taking care of her senile mother. Mi-ja's bout with depressions is still an uphill battle for her. Next week, the series "Queen of the Game" debuts in this time slot.

'BEST THEATRE'

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: A one- episode drama.

'GREEN ROSE'

EPISODES 17 AND 18

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Yoo-ran tries to blackmail Hyun-tae, with a surprising result. Joong-won suggests Yoo-ran leave the country, and she begs him to leave with her. Hyun-tae starts to panic when he finds out Chairman Oh has disappeared.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Soo-ah is touched when she finds out Joong-won bought the summer house. Hyun-tae is relieved to hear Chairman Oh is unlikely to regain his memory. Joong-won is outraged when he hears the news of Yoo-ran.