Song Ji-hyo to dive deep into haenyeo culture for documentary
Actor Song Ji-hyo / Courtesy of BBC Studios, JTBC
Actor Song Ji-hyo is set to take on the challenging role of a haenyeo, or female diver, for an upcoming documentary series jointly produced between BBC Studios and Korean broadcaster JTBC, the content production companies announced Wednesday.
In the series, titled, “Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure,” viewers will follow Song as she undergoes rigorous training to become a haenyeo on Korea's southern Jeju Island.
BBC Studios and JTBC said this series marks the first time that BBC Studios Asia has collaborated with a Korean broadcaster for an original production. They added the series will be broadcast on BBC Earth’s Asian channel as well as JTBC early next year.
“I'm really excited to be a part of this project conducted by BBC Studios and JTBC,” Song said. ”I want to push the boundaries of my over 20 years in the entertainment industry with this project, not just as an experience, but as a chance to (grow and learn from) the real lives of these women.”
A haenyeo, female diver in Korean, tries to place the fish she caught into a net in waters off Jeju Island, Aug. 31, 2008. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Haenyeo are women from fishing villages who dive to collect seafood in the nation’s southern waters, such as Jeju Island and Busan, or in the East Sea.
For over 400 years, these women divers have upheld traditions passed down through generations. Some are known to dive as deep as 20 meters daily, without oxygen masks or equipment, gathering seafood to support their families and sustain their livelihoods.
Among them, the women divers of Jeju Island became part of the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
In the series, Song will dive into the waters with haenyeos to showcase their incredible talents, while also bringing the stunning landscape of Jeju Island to life.
Song has won the hearts of many across Asia with her warm and resilient personality on SBS's long-running variety show "Running Man." She has also made a name for herself as an actor through films such as "Intruder" (2020) and "New World" (2013).
“BBC Studios is delighted to be able to bring the lives of the seafarers and the beauty of Jeju Island through the eyes of Song Ji-hyo to audiences across JTBC and BBC Earth Asia,” Ryan Shiotani, senior vice president of content at BBC Studios Asia, said in a Korean statement.
“This documentary is an important opportunity for JTBC to showcase Korea's precious cultural heritage on the global stage. Jeju's haenyeo divers live a unique life that blends tradition and nature, and it is very meaningful to share their story with global viewers,” Lee Dong-hee, head of the content business division at JTBC SAY Studio, said.