As hallyu, the South Korean pop-culture wave, washes over the world, Korean movies are taking the limelight at film festivals, K-dramas are airing internationally, Hollywood is remaking Korean screenplays and Korean films are seeing distribution in the U.S. market.

As Chinese and Japanese actors such as Ziyi Zhang, Jet Li and Ken Watanabe have made recent inroads in Hollywood, now top Korean stars want a shot.

But do American media know the difference between the cultures and ethnicities — or do we "all look same"? On a recent Howard Stern radio piece about a Korean woman, the woman clearly was Chinese, answering the phone in Chinese. So are Koreans the new Chinese in the U.S.?

Korean-American actors and actresses are already making strides in TV and film.

John Cho has appeared in hits such as "American Pie," "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," and the upcoming sequel "Harold and Kumar Go to Amsterdam," as well as episodes of "Grey's Anatomy." Cho plays the lead role of Harold Lee in "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," which includes a barrier-breaking scene: at the end, Harold finally gets the girl. He even kisses her. That has got to be the first time I've ever seen an Asian male lead smooch a non-Asian female lead. One of my biggest disappointments in American film was in "Cradle 2 the Grave" — Jet Li, as Su, saves non-Asian Daria and they ... hug. Come on! He saved her life!

Rick Yune, who has been to the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, has "Die Another Day," "Boston Legal" and "The Fast and the Furious" on his resume. His brother, Karl Yune, appeared in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and is currently working on a project in South Korea. Sandra Oh is a household name — known as Dr. Christina Yang in "Grey's Anatomy" and the woman wronged in the hit film "Sideways."

But Hawai'i has a soft spot for Daniel Dae Kim — Jin on "Lost." (Yunjin Kim, who plays his wife on the series, may be the first hallyu star to break into the U.S. market.) Born in 1968 in Pusan, South Korea, he came to the U.S. at the age of 2 and was raised in the Northeast.

After running into him at events over the last few years, I recently had the pleasure of having lunch with Kim. The part-time Hawai'i resident and married father of two is a personable, down-to-earth guy. He loves Hawai'i's cultural diversity and believes that the Islands have a lot to offer his children.

Kim and I have had similar experiences growing up Korean-American. We studied at the same summer language program in South Korea, although at different times. Kim has seen Korean dramas such as "Winter Sonata" and realizes that hallyu has reached the U.S.

But Kim is part of what I call U.S. hallyu. I think we are just beginning to see its effects as Korean-American actors make progress in snagging roles in big-budget movies.

The film industry has come a long way since the days of "Sixteen Candles," Long Duck Dong. I commend shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost" for their role in U.S. hallyu.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. For K-drama issues, reach him at jeffchung@kbfd .com or KBFD at 521-8066.

'CHILL SISTERS' ENCOUNTER TROUBLES IN ROMANCES

'INFAMOUS CHILL SISTERS'

EPISODES 15 AND 16

Tonight at 7: Seolchill finds out about Michill and Ilhan, and tells Michill to break up with him. Ilhan is confused after finding out Michill and Seolchill were twins.

Tonight at 8: Myongja begs and pleads with Chansoon to let Taeja marry Jongchill, but Chansoon won't budge. Taeja tells Yangpal he'll marry Jongchill with his mother's approval. Dukchill worries when she does not hear from Songguk for days.

'PLEASE COME BACK, SOONAE'

EPISODES 3 AND 4

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Soon-ae is having second thoughts about being in Cho-eun's body. Cho-eun visits a Buddhist priest and a medium to ask them to switch the souls back.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Soon-ae is hurt when she learns Il-seok loves Cho-eun. So she runs out in the middle of the exorcism. Cho-eun tells Il-seok how her and Soon-ae's souls have been switched. She asks Il-seok to make Soon-ae believe that he is sorry about the affair.

'LOVE & AMBITION'

EPISODES 43 AND 44

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Sun-hee is pregnant and is getting used to Hong-jo's mother's sarcastic ways. Tae-soo's business flourishes through a sluggish economy. Mi-ja brings up divorce with Tae-joon. An old love from Hae-young's past shows up.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Tae-joon goes to see Jung-ja when he hears she's running a bar. Mi-ja infuriates Tae-joon when she buys a new car. Tae-joon calls Mi-ja from a business trip, but she's out with Hong-jo asking him to help her get a divorce.

"ONE FINE DAY"

EPISODES 11 AND 12

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Hyo-ju follows Ha-neul to the inn where she's staying. Gun asks Dong-ha to talk to Ha-neul for him. Dong-ha takes Ha-neul to the ocean on his parents' memorial day. Tae-won catches Ha-neul in front of Gun's house, and forces her into his car.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Ha-neul gets drunk with Mal-ja, and Mal-ja calls Dong-ha to come pick her up. Hyo-ju breaks into tears when Gun tells her he's never loved her.