K-pop has added a new dimension to the industry: theme parks. SM Town was the first company to do this in 2015 with its SM Town Coex Artium in Seoul, featuring six floors of interactive activities, shops selling celebrity merchandise, a cafe, photo studio, a hologram performance theater and more. Fans are able to immerse themselves in their favorite artists and experience a recording session complete with training, hair and makeup.
Jeju Island will be the new destination for K-pop fans. The 617-acre Jeju Shinhwa World will host hotels under the Marriott, Four Seasons and other brands, villas, a casino, an amusement theme park, a Lionsgate movie world, a water park, shopping, restaurants and YG Town.
YG Town and G-Dragon from Big Bang helped design the theme park for their fans, with outdoor concert venues and other entertainment activities. Parts of Jeju Shinhwa World are open with other sections expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The new family-oriented destination is expected to bring in tourists from neighboring countries such as Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the United States.
Jeju Island was known best until now for its location filming and as an alternative honeymoon destination to Hawaii for Korean couples. The Jeju Food and Wine Festival, inspired by the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, has been a regional culinary draw for its abundance of seafood and local pork.
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
“Breezy Love”
Episodes 36-37
>> Today, 6:30 p.m.: Mipoong asks Jango for a divorce. Jango looks at her in disbelief and chides her. With resolve, she declares that it must end now. Jango tells her that’s one thing he can’t oblige.
>> Today, 7:45 p.m.: Mipoong places an ad and receives a call. She’s shocked to hear the caller knows Grandma Soonok. Youngae hears the conversation and is just as shocked.
“Love Temperature”
Episodes 5-8
>> Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Hyun-soo and Jung-sun keep striving for their dreams.
>> Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Jung-sun asks Hyun-soo to wait, while she thinks love is unexciting. Only after breaking up does their love story truly begin.
“While You Were Sleeping”
Episodes 5-8
>> Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Hong-joo and Jae-chan can see future tragedies through their dreams. As Seung-won drops So-yoon off at home, he witnesses Park Joon-mo violently assaulting his wife. Seung-won tries to stop him but kills him in the process.
>> Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Everything so far wasn’t a coincidence, including Woo-tak bringing Jae-chan to Hong-joo’s pork belly restaurant and crashing into Yoo-bum. Woo-tak knew all along that Seung-won was Jae-chan’s younger brother.
“Band of Sisters”
Episodes 57-60
>> Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Se-kyung tells Chairman Goo that Se-ho is alive. Meanwhile, Pil-soon moves ahead with the plan for Madame Sa’s birthday date memorial service.
>> Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Ki-chan opens a press conference for victims of Ruby Cosmetics’ products. Se-kyung goes to stop the press conference. Dal-hee meets with Choo Tae-soo to find out information linked to Se-kyung.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD-TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
