Korean actress Song Ji-hyo is swapping the film set for the depths of the season. She is the center of Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-Hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure, a doc series from BBC Studios and JTBC.
Across three episodes, Song will free dive with the haenyeo underwater sea fishers, whose tradition has been passed down from generation to generation over 400 years. They risk their lives by plunging up to 20 meters to the seafloor without oxygen masks or advanced equipment to gather shellfish and many of the woman are in their 80s.
Song’s mother was a former swimming athlete, while her aunt was a haenyeo, who usually begin their training at age eight. The actress in now in her 40s and will have to cram in three decades’ of training into just a month.
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The doc will see her submerge herself in haenyeo techniques and culture, while taking viewers under the waters around Jeju Island in Korea, which is considered a wonder of the world with 368 mountains and more than 160 underground lava tubes.
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The doc will run on JTBC in Korea and BBC Earth across Asia. This marks the first time JTBC and BBC Studios have parented on an original production, and is also the BBC’s first co-pro in Korea.
Song is best known for her role in Running Man, Korea’s longest-running variety show. She has also appeared in films such as Unstoppable and Intruder and TV series including Was it Love? and Lovely Horribly. She also had a cameo as herself in the Korean remake of Entourage. Her journey in the doc comes as interest in Korean culture continues to boom around the world.
“After over 20 years in the entertainment industry, I’m looking forward to pushing beyond the limits I’ve felt, and this project could be that chance,” said Song. “It’s more than simply stepping into the shoes of a Haenyeo — it’s about truly immersing myself in their authentic way of life and evolving through that shared journey.”
Lee Dong-hee, Managing Director of SAY, the unscripted studio of Korean broadcaster JTBC, said the doc was “a significant opportunity for JTBC to introduce Korea’s precious cultural heritage to the global stage.”
The haenyeo of Jeju live a unique life where tradition and nature come together, and we are thrilled to share their story with an international audience. We plan to set a new paradigm for international content production moving forward.”
Ryan Shiotani, Senior Vice President of Content at BBC Studios Asia, added: “We recognise the importance of Korea as a leading content producer and collaborator, and we’re excited to take our first steps into co-production with leading broadcaster JTBC and with the support of [Korean production body] KOCCA. We have ambitious plans to strengthen and evolve our relationships with partners in Asia and to bring more Asian stories to the rest of the world.”
The deal marks another agreement during a busy MIPCOM for BBC Studios, the commercial wing of UK pubcaster the BBC. It has struck several deals, such as for landmark doc Asia, in Cannes this week.