KBFD turns 23 next year and is in the preliminary planning stages for a celebratory tour of South Korea.

My father previously owned and operated a successful travel business that included a charter tour from Hawai'i to Korea. Building on that, as well as KBFD's more than 30-year relationship with Korean networks KBS and SBS, we feel that we could provide a tour experience that is unique.

Although the dollar is relatively strong against the Korean currency, the slowing economy creates uncertainty about how many people would be interested in the tour we are planning.

Unlike other tours, we want to place an emphasis on visiting Korean networks to see musical shows, tour broadcasting facilities, watch live programming, arrange to meet those behind the making of dramas and, of course, meet top stars in the industry.

Locals' love of food also will play a large role in the planning process. K-drama fans are always interested in the foods they see on TV, whether it is black-bean noodles or hard-boiled eggs eaten in saunas. This tour can be shaped to satisfy foodies and K-drama fans.

The last component of the tour would be a visit to a Korean film set. Depending on what movies are being filmed at the time, I could arrange a location visit.

Ideally if enough fans are interested in going on this trip, a chartered plane will be arranged. We will partner with one of the largest and most reputable tour companies in Korea to handle the ground portion. KBFD will do its portion, using its relationship with networks and the entertainment industry to provide an experience no other tour can schedule. The tour would last about 10 days, covering two cities: Seoul and Pusan or Cheju Island. At this point, price estimates are $3,900 to $4,800.

KBFD is calling in favors with all its business counterparts in Korea to provide a remarkable hallyu (Korean wave) experience. Given my track record of bringing in top Korean stars for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, you can rest assured this trip will not be one to miss as it will only happen once.

Those who are very interested in such a tour and would like to learn more, please send me an e-mail so that I can get a gauge of interest to further pursue the project. Please send your e-mail to kbfdtv@gmail.com.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'INTO THE SUN'

Episodes 13 and 14

Tonight at 7:45: While trying to get some papers for a job application, Jae-hyun finds out his father had passed away. Jae-hyun and Su-jin try to urge Jae-hyun's mother to get married. Seung-ha proceeds with his plan to take Hye-rin abroad with him to study.

Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.: Unable to handle the fact that Suk-min was involved in Woo-jin's accident, Hye-rin breaks up with Suk-min. Suk-min is furious when he finds out Su-jin and Jae-hyun slept together, but still opposes their marriage nonetheless.

'HAPPINESS'

Episodes 51 and 52

Sunday at 6:45 p.m.: Jun-su leaves home after fighting with Seo-yun and upsets both families. Kang-suk and the coach move into a nice apartment with the help from a anonymous sponsor. Ji-sook confesses everything to Seo-yun about what happened between Ha-kyong and her.

Sunday at 7:45 p.m.: Ha-kyong so manipulates the situation that Ji-sook kidnaps Sa-rang and she runs away from the Park residence. Ha-kyong locates them on a GPS system but pretends not to know where they've gone. Seo-yun points out to Jun-su that he's insecure about Seo-yun leaving him because of his dead mother.

'TAZZA'

Episodes 3 and 4

Monday at 7:45 p.m.: To raise money for Young-min's grandmother's surgery, Go-ni and Young-min go to the gambling house run by Ah-gui. But when Ah-gui catches the two colluding in a game of hwatu, he demands that they pay a heavy price.

Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.: Young-min is unable to collect his grandmother's body until he pays the hospital in full. Furious, Young-min vows to make money somehow. Nan-sook tries to run a teahouse to help with Young-min's hospital bills. Du-chul offers Young-min money for Ah-gui's head.

'THE PAINTER OF WIND'

Episodes 1 and 2

Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.: Shin Yun-bok is a promising young painter studying at Dohwaseo, the royal school for painting. One day on a school excursion, he does an anonymous painting of a woman which earns the ire of the queen dowager. And King Jeongjo, the queen dowager's grandson, turns to the exiled painter Kim Hong-do (who also goes by the title of Danwon) for help with finding out the identity of the student who painted the controversial work.

Thursday at 7:45 p.m.: Danwon Kim Hongdo arrives in Seoul on King Jeongjo's orders to find the Dohwaseo student who did the painting that the queen dowager finds objectionable. And when the famed painter starts teaching at Dohwaseo, he becomes immensely impressed with the precocious Yun-bok's talent.

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD-TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles in Hawai'i. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.