BBC Studios has announced that audiences across Asia will be the first to watch Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure on their screens, with the series set to premiere on BBC Earth and BBC Player in Asia on 11 May.

A first original co-production between BBC Studios and Korean media company JTBC, Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure immerses viewers in Korean star Song Ji-hyo’s journey as she undertakes the greatest challenge of her life: free diving with the legendary haenyeo or sea women.

The haenyeo are keepers of a precious tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation for at least 400 years, a lifestyle UNESCO has recognised as an ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’. Every day these incredible women, many of whom are in their 80s, risk their lives by plunging up to 20 metres to the seafloor without air apparatus or advanced equipment, to gather shellfish for their families and their livelihood.

Across three visually spectacular episodes, Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure documents Song Ji-hyo on an adventure like no other, as she subjects herself to the intensive training necessary to become one of Korea’s legendary sea women. Her aunt was a haenyeo, with Song Ji-hyo fascinated by the inspiring aquatic abilities and charisma of her relatives. However, most haenyeo start their training in the sea at the age of eight but Song Ji-hyo, will have to cram over 30 years’ worth of training into just a month. She will not only need to exercise her body but also prepare her mind – it’s a high-stakes adventure that will reveal an unseen side to both Song Ji-hyo and Korea.

All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Jeju, Korea’s breathtakingly beautiful southernmost island. This stunning volcanic landscape – often called the ‘Korean Hawaii’ – conceals a complex history. Once a savage penal colony that people longed to escape, it has now become one of Korea’s most coveted travel destinations. By immersing herself in the haenyeo way of life, Song Ji-hyo will uncover hidden secrets about their culture, their home, and the limits of her own abilities. All in the hope that they will eventually accept her as their newest recruit.

Ryan Shiotani, Senior Vice President of Content at BBC Studios Asia, says,“We are incredibly proud to partner with JTBC on our first original co-production together to celebrate the incredible lives of the haenyeo divers and immerse audiences in Song Jihyo’s most personal and demanding challenge. At BBC Studios, we consistently have the unique privilege to work with the best in the business, and with expert camera work and Song Ji-hyo’s down-to-earth charm, this series is no different. We can’t wait to give viewers in Asia, and across the world, a deeper appreciation of Korea’s deep cultural heritage, like never before.”