August — the hottest, muggiest month in South Korea — is when South Koreans travel for summer vacation.

South Korean summers are akin to the torpid, dog days of Tokyo and New York City. This time of year, the humidity level is around 86 percent, compared to Hawai'i's 49 percent. I spent one summer in Korea jumping from one air-conditioned building to another. As soon as I stepped outside, my shirt was drenched with sweat. It was like stepping into a sauna, a flash of thick heat that drained you.

Someone in Korea taught me a funny way to fight the heat — with more heat! When you eat a very spicy lunch, the weather becomes bearable. Either way, you end up sweating madly and gulping bottles of water.

Although some Koreans, thinking our Island weather is like a year-round Korean summer, believe it's ridiculous to travel to Hawai'i in August, many do take their annual summer vacation here. Parents often send their children to summer school at 'Iolani or Punahou to learn English while the father golfs and the mother shops. And guess what? The climate is the main reason they come here.

With Korean Air's 8 p.m. flight, travelers have dinner, sleep and wake up in the Aloha State. Some well-heeled South Korean elderly keep second homes here to escape South Korea's summer and winter extremes. If you take a closer look at recent real-estate and business transactions, you will find that many buyers are Korean.

South Koreans are slowly but noticeably having an economic impact on our state. They are buying golf courses, condominium developments, luxury condominiums and high-end residential homes.

South Koreans still need a visa to enter the U.S., and getting one isn't easy. Can you imagine the amount of travel that will happen if the U.S. visa waiver program ever goes into effect for South Koreans?

Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises Korean dramas. He'll take K-drama questions or comments at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'FREEZE'

FINAL EPISODE, 5

Tonight at 7: In the final episode, Ji-woo learns the true identity of Joong-won and E-hwa. E-hwa persuades Joong-won to leave with her. Detective Jang doesn't give up and tracks E-hwa and Joon-won, and Ji-woo also goes to find them. Hyung-joon looks up his old girlfriend (now a grandmother) in a hospital, and apologizes to her in tears.

'THANK YOU'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Young-shin and Ki-suh rush to the school when they find out Spring has gone to school. Spring sneaks out at night to go see newborn kittens with Bo-ram. Young-shin looks for her when she finds out Spring is missing.

Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Young-shin is taken away in an ambulance. When Suk-hyun tries to go with her, Ki-suh pushes him aside and gets into the ambulance with Young-shin. Suk-hyun takes Spring and Grandpa to his house and tells his mother Spring is his daughter.

'MONEY WAR'

EPISODES 13 AND 14

Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Nara is scared out of his wits when he sees Ma Dong-po sitting at his desk. Cha-yon begs Mr. Docko to help her grandmother. Madam Bong pleads with her partners for help.

Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: Madam Bong begs Nara for forgiveness. But Nara refuses to join forces with her. No. 3 goes to Chunsa Village and persuades the villagers to sell their shares. Mr. Docko takes Nara to Chunsa village and tells him that's where the woman he loved once lived.

'AIR CITY'

EPISODES 5 AND 6

Friday at 7:50 p.m.: When the daughter of a high North Korean official tries to commit suicide in the airport bathroom, Jaemoo secures the area, and the airport security and NSI butt heads over jurisdiction. Myong-woo asks Ji-sung to arrange a meeting between Hae-ryun and her boyfriend, but Ji-sung turns her down flat.

Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Dokyong sees Myong-woo and Ji-sung together at a meeting, and decides not to attend. When Do-kyong sees Myong-woo with a big bag at a bus stop, she takes her to her place and lets her stay the night. The next day, Do-kyong gives her address to Ji-sung and tells him to go see Myong-woo.