Actor Song Ji-hyo is set to suit up as a Korean female sea diver, or haenyeo, in a new documentary collaboration between JTBC and BBC Studios, the British broadcasting and production company said Wednesday.

The new program, “Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-Hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure," follows Song's journey as she undergoes intense training alongside experienced haenyeo to become one of them, while also immersing herself in their world, according to BBC Studios.


The show will consist of three episodes and is scheduled to be aired on JTBC early next year, with a global release on BBC Earth Asia.

The upcoming program will be JTBC and BBC Studios’ first collaborative project to create original content, as well as BBC Studios Asia's first Korean collaborative project.

The program will also go into production with support from the Korea Creative Content Agency (Kocca).

“This documentary is an important opportunity for JTBC to showcase Korea's valuable cultural heritage on the global stage,” Lee Dong-hee, the head of content business at JTBC Say Studio, said in a press release.

“I feel deeply honored to share the story of the haenyeo of Jeju Island’s unique life, where tradition and nature harmonize, with audiences around the world.”

“I believe that the co-production with BBC Studios will serve as a stepping stone to bring more Korean stories to the global stage in the future. We also plan to create a new paradigm for international content production," he added.

“I'm truly excited to be part of this project with BBC Studios and JTBC. Through this project, I want to push beyond the limits I’ve felt after over 20 years in the entertainment industry. The project is not just a simple experience for me, but I want to use this experience as an opportunity for personal growth by learning about the real lives of haenyeo," said Song.

Song debuted in 2001 and is known for her performance in MBC’s 2006 TV drama “Princess Hours” and the 2008 film “A Frozen Flower.” She is also a member of SBS hit variety show “Running Man” (2010-).


BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]