The South Korean network SBS had a TV milestone recently.

Its 16-episode series "Money War" was a hit in Korea and with Hawai'i fans. The show was so popular that SBS produced "The Bonus Round" — an additional four episodes that extended the show for two weeks. Korean networks have extended the popular series before, but in this case, the additional episodes had a new story line with the same characters.

"Money War" is about the illegal world of loan-sharking, tied in with a love story between characters Geum Nara (Park Shin Yang) and Suh Joo Hee (Park Jin Hee). Exploring the dark and brutal life of loan sharks, the series was a refreshing alternative to the typical sappy melodrama.

Loan shark Geum Nara helps Suh Joo Hee, whose father borrowed money. Not able to pay back the money, the loan sharks start harassing Suh Joo Hee. Geum Nara comes to her rescue, only to be beat up by his former boss — right before his wedding to Suh Joo Hee in the series finale. Not a typical happy K-drama ending.

Many Hawai'i fans called me to complain about the ending. Some theorize that "The Bonus Round" was the result of fans in Korea complaining about the ending. The final episode of "Money War" clinched 26.4 percent of South Korean viewers, beating out competitors KBS and MBC.

In the "Bonus Round" episodes, new characters joined Geum Nara. The new story line looked at ways people end up turning to loan sharks. In one instance, a gigolo who cons women out of money is out-conned by a woman who threatens to tell his wife about his affairs. He's left with no cash to pay back his loan from Geum Nara — who winds up helping the gigolo get revenge.

Some critics have said that the hastily produced "Bonus Round" episodes look like they were put together on the fly. However, SBS is credited for trying a new alternative to extending a series — a tactic that could also be viewed by fans as dragging out a story, which could hurt ratings.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'BRIDE FROM VIETNAM'

EPISODES 7 AND 8

Tonight at 7: Han-suk's heart sinks when she finds Jun-wu collapsed on the street. Jin-ju is shocked to see Jun-wu's condition with her own eyes. Han-suk tells Jin-ju she'll send her back to Vietnam.

Tonight at 8: Gun-ja drops Jin-ju off at the airport. But as soon as she boards the plane, Jin-ju has a change of heart. Ji-young tells Young-min she'd rather work than be a stay-at-home housewife.

'KANGNAM MOM'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Sang-won finds he has to try to please the other teachers, his students, and their parents to survive. Min-joo tells Soo-mi that her husband has another woman. The cram schools that Soo-mi recommended for Min-joo and Mi-kyung's sons aren't what they seem to be.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Soo-mi invites Mi-kyung to join her circle for betraying Min-joo. Mi-kyung joins them but is treated like a slave. Joon-woong is caught smoking.

'THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR'

EPISODES 1 AND 2

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: What happens when all the characters head for Cambodia? Soo-chan goes there with a woman for a getaway. Mi-hee drags her sister Yoon-hee on a "vacation," hoping to spend time with Soo-chan, not knowing that he's with a woman. Duk-gil, a single dad and farmer, goes to find a wife.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Duk-gil marries a Cambodian woman, Kachu, who conspires with the matchmaking agent to scam Duk-gil.

'AIR CITY'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Myong-woo collapses and Do-kyong takes Myong-woo to another hospital, not the airport infirmary as Myong-woo requests. Dokyong heads a big project.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Sun-woo holds Kang-hyun hostage and points his gun at Ji-sung. An alarm goes off when Do-kyong is with Michael, an airline executive, but Do-kyong gets herself out of the tight spot, saying there is a drill in the boiler room.