Cyworld and minihompies — welcome to Korea online
By Jeff Chung
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It seems like everyone in America has a MySpace account, where they share their personal life online.
In South Korea, one of the most wired countries in the world, people of all ages use Cyworld. The MySpace equivalent boasts that nearly 90 percent of South Koreans younger than 20 are registered.
Koreans call the online networking site "cy" for short and often ask each other "Do you cy?" It's all about online self- promotion and keeping in touch with friends. Sure, you can call friends on the cell, but Cyworld is a portal through which you can share your personal life with people.
Most Korean stars have a minihompy (Internet lingo for "mini home page") on Cyworld, or fans maintain the sites for them.
Shin Hyun joon, who visited the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival last October, has a Cyworld minihompy (http://minihp.cyworld.com/pims/main/pims_main.asp?tid=38721936) and although it is in Korean, there are tabs in English that you can click on, such as "Home" and "Photo," with subcategories, and a message board.
Shin logs on to the site, uploading pictures from trips, work and social life. Fans will post notes such as "I want to see you" under various pictures. And Shin has posted his baby pictures, along with family photos, which fans can download.
On the Korean version of Cyworld, you can search for your favorite Korean star, and if they have a minihompy, the site will direct you to the star's page. Unfortunately, it is in Korean, and the U.S. version does not link you to Korean stars.
Cyworld is owned by the telecom conglomerate SK Communications, which has set up an office in San Francisco to launch a U.S. version of Cyworld.
THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES
'DEAR LOVER'
EPISODES 13 AND 14
Tonight at 7: Dong-woo tells Hyun-suk and Ae-young that the baby's blood type is B, which means the baby is not Dong-woo's. Jae-in apologizes to Dong-woo.
Tonight at 8: While fixing the baby monitor, Hyun-suk hears Jae-in telling baby Mi-hee how she still loves Hyun-suk. Hyun-suk tells Jae-in how tormented he feels about Mi-hee. After seeing Jae-in crying secretly, Dong-woo blows up.
'THANK YOU'
EPISODES 1 AND 2
Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: In this new series, Gi-suh is an arrogant fourth-year surgical resident. Reputed to be the best surgeon in the hospital, his world collapses when his girlfriend dies before he can save her. Young-shin is a young single mother of a little girl with AIDS who lives with her senile grandfather.
Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Gi-suh punches a patient's indifferent husband. He is arrested for assault and is fired from the hospital. Gi-suh tells his parents that he'd quit being a doctor, and wants to be involved in the family business. When Gi-suh arrives at the island, Gi-suh finds himself following Mr. Lee.
'MONEY WAR'
EPISODES 1 AND 2
Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Successful fund manager Nara is living the high life with his rich, beautiful girlfriend, Cha-yon. But his happy world is shattered when loan sharks crashed his sister's wedding. Cha-yon begs Madam Bong, her grandmother's loan shark, to help Nara. She agrees — but on one condition.
Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Devastated by the deaths of his parents, Nara has no time to pick up the pieces before he's driven to the streets by loan sharks. However, when Nara hears of Docko Chul, a legendary loan shark, he decides to become his pupil.
'BLUE FISH'
EPISODES 9 AND 10
Friday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-su's aunt is scared out of her wits when Dong-man answers Eun-su's cell phone. Eun-hae calls Hyun-wu for help. With the help of his friend, Hyun-wu rescues Eun-su from Dong-man and his goons.
Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-su's parents come to Korea for Eun-su's wedding. Hyun-wu tries to find out more about Dong-man, Eun-su's kidnapper. Eun-su and Dong-hyuk's wedding goes on without a hitch. Eun-su begs her father to forgive Hyun-wu's father.