The Busan International Film Festival is going through some changes as the festival’s longtime programmer and executive director Lee Yong-kwan was recommended to step down by the mayor of Busan City Suh Byung-soo this past January after a special audit
The Busan International Film Festival is going through some changes as the festival’s longtime programmer and executive director Lee Yong-kwan was recommended to step down by the mayor of Busan City Suh Byung-soo this past January after a special audit on BIFF was taken. Many supporters of Lee say that this was the backlash from screening a film, “Diving Bell,” last year despite objections from the government. Leaders in the Korean film industry call this a censorship issue of the festival. The controversial film, Diving Bell, is a documentary that chronicles the tragic sinking of Sewol Ferry in April of 2014 where hundreds of high school students drowned.
The captain of the ship in plain clothes bailed ship instead of helping passengers and the crews’ poor judgment in evacuation process lead to the loss of many young lives. The film raises questions on the government’s response and reaction time to the sinking of the ferry.
“Family Is Coming”
Episodes 13 & 14
Today, 6:30 p.m.: Dong-seok finds out that Jun-a and Jun-hui are siblings. He promises to take care of Jun-hui if Jun-a leaves. But Keut-sun makes it impossible for him to leave. She starts losing her memory and asking for Jun-a. Dong-seok doesn’t know if he should tell Jun-hui or not. But when Jun-a crosses Dal-ja, she gives Jun-hui information on their mother. Today, 7:45p.m.: Jun-hui falls ill from the shock of finding out her mother is alive. When Keut-sun allows Dal-su to come home, but not Se-ho and Dong-eun, the couple finally get their act together and come up with a new kind of cheese. Jun-hui makes it to the final stage of the design competition. The real Kook Jun-hui shows up at the house claiming that someone’s been impersonating him.
‘Heard It Through the Grapevine’
Episodes 1 & 2
Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Jung-ho (Yoo Jung-sang) and Yeon-hee (Yoo Ho-jung) are modern day royals. They have power, wealth and fame, and lead a life of prestige. They also have perfect plans for their high school senior son In-sang (Lee Joon). But their plans go awry when In-sang falls in love Bom (Goh Ah-sung) with an extremely normal girl from a “common” family. Tuesday, 7:45 p.m : Jung-ho and Yeon-hee are in the shock of their lives when In-sang brings home a very pregnant girlfriend. But even before they can get over their shock, Bom goes into labor.
“Hyde, Jekyll, Me”
Episodes 11 & 12
Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Seo-jin decides to come clean about himself to Ha-na. He asks her to stay by his side until he falls asleep and wakes up again. Ha-na is in shock when Seo-jin wakes up as Robin. Robin tells her Seo-jin and he are two people who share the same body. Thursday, 7:45p.m.: Tae-joo is confused when Seo-jin tells him he remembers another incident and wants to talk about it. Seo-jin tells Ha-na he’s the one Ha-na confessed to when they were on a trip, and tells her he believes Ha-na actually has feelings for him since she has feelings for Robin.
“My Heart Twinkle, Twinkle”
Episode 11, 12
Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Soon-jung finds out Woon-tak is responsible for hef father’s death. Woon-tak finds Soon-jung eavesdropping, and threatens her not to tell Soon-jin. Scared, Soon-jung runs away from home. Saturday, 7:45 p.m: Soon-jung is now living in Seoul woking at a chicken joint barely getting paid. Woon-tak finally opens a franchise in Seoul and throws a party to celebrate. Soon-jin finds out she’s pregnant and Woon-tak is overjoyed, but Soon-jin can’t be happy thinking about Soon-jung.
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Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. This is the second of a weekly column new to The Garden Island offering synopses of the dramas playing throughout the Islands. Chung can be reached at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
