Premium Documentaries Captivate Fans
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Trendy dramas dominate the Korean small screen these days. But networks are producing high quality documentaries that have captivated fans with spectacular images and heartwarming, educational stories. They deal with issues ranging from the North Pole to spice routes to dinosaurs, and the time and effort put into these programs has paid off with television fans asking for more.
KBS put out ``Chamagodo'' in 2007, finding a more than receptive audience. The documentary about the ancient commercial route that stretches from Tibet, the Himalayas, India and Nepal won the hearts of many viewers. It is regarded as having started the trend of ``premium documentaries.''
This year, KBS brought six-episode ``Noodle Road,'' tracking the history of noodle production. The program took viewers through the simple dish -the past and the present, the East and the West- that has captivated the world for over 8,000 years.
Hosted by famed chef Ken Hom from BBC program ``Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery,'' ``Noodle Road'' will air its second and third episodes next January.
MBC has also presented two very different documentaries for viewers: ``Spice Route'' and ``The Tears of the North Pole.''
``Spice Route,'' which aired in November, trekked the ancient route of spices from East Asia to Europe. The documentary opens the door to the legendary road of spices and even explains that Korean style red pepper flakes were used as a substitute for black pepper. The program was a big hit, with the camera crew bringing royal cuisine and pepper farms to the homes of viewers.
``The Tears of the North Pole'' was one of the most popular documentaries this year, with its simple message and beautiful backdrops of the North Pole. The three-episode documentary only met fans twice, and will air its third episode on Dec. 21, but MBC has already promised viewers it will rebroadcast the program Jan.1 at 10:40 a.m. amid requests from fans.
The journey to the icy cold arctic region was tough, but the documentary stirred important issues through the small screen, from the extinction of wildlife to the struggles of the native Inuit population.
EBS also boasted two interesting documentaries this winter, ``Koreanosaurus'' and ``Andes.''
Noted as the first documentary to focus on dinosaurs that lived here on the Korean Peninsula, ``Koreanosaurus'' introduced the lifelong journey of a dinosaur named Jeombagi. Going back to the Cretaceous period via computer graphics, the program offered beautiful backdrops of New Zealand and surprisingly realistic images of various dinosaurs. Following the high popularity of the program, EBS decided to air the documentary once again Dec. 22- 24.
``Andes'' captured the lives of people living in the world's longest exposed mountain ranges. From life in the scenic mountains to ancient ceremonies and colorful festivals, the program captivated fans with its breathtaking scenes of the Andes and the humble lives of the people living there.
In 2009, most major networks are planning to bring more of these programs.