CH5. - Alexander Armstrong in South Korea (2022)

Gangnam Style… Squid Games…K-Pop. South Korea is one of those places that's always somewhere in our consciousness, but most people know little about this extraordinary country. Divided into the distinct countries of North and South since 1953, the course of Korean history has been strongly influenced by the country's location between its two mighty neighbours - China and Japan. But despite this, unique Korean culture has retained a distinctive quality of its own. Alexander heads off to one of the most dynamic nations on earth to find out more. South Korea is a nation of contrasts, smaller than England but can feel like another planet entirely. Alexander's mission is getting to the heart of what makes the nation tick is. 

South Korea is a country that is deeply traditional but also fast-paced, future tech savy and forward thinking. How is it that a faraway country packs such a punch? What will Alexander find as he heads into the future in one of the liveliest, at times strangest, and proudest nations on earth? 

During his travels Alexander will explore much of what the country has to offer from a K-Pop makeover, the awesome Gyeonbokgung Palace, and ultra-hi-tech cities where robots serve chicken in restaurants. He'll also visit the ‘poo café' where everything including the teacups is toilet inspired. He'll also explore the fad of Mukbang – madly eating online, and visit stunning landscapes paragliding over the mountains, and visit Seoul's Death Experience School and the Healing Sleep café. In the wider country a holy Shamen advises him, and he joins in the original squid games on the streets

Episode 1
Alexander journeys across South Korea, one of the most influential and successful countries on earth, known for its manufacturing strength and cultural exports. He arrives late at night in bustling downtown Seoul, and kicks off his epic Korean adventure in Gangnam, the fabled district immortalised by Psy's Gangnam Style video. Helping to keep modern Korea on the global map are its YouTube stars, and Alexander wolfs down noodles with Heebab, a record-breaking Mukhbang 'bulk-eater', and meets Korean Billy, whose English accent

Episode 2
It's the second phase of Alexander Armstrong's journey around South Korea, where he continues his exploration of its bustling capital Seoul. He takes a water taxi across the great River Han, then heads for its historical centre, where he marvels at the splendour of the 14thcentury Gyeongbokgung Palace. He takes in the colourful changing of the guard ceremony after being guided around the palace grounds and shown the intricate architecture of the throne area. After stopping off for one of Korea's favourite meals, fried chicken and beer, made and served by robots, he heads to the famous Yangnyeongsi herbal medicine market, the mecca of South Korea's traditional medicine industry. He learns about the health properties of deer antler and dried frog, before meeting a ginseng brew master who supplies Alexander with a warming cup of Korean red ginseng tea. Alexander heads for another of Seoul's street markets, a vintage clothing emporium that has become the go-to place for Korea's over-65s – who are now leading the way in street fashion. He meets a young photographer whose mission is to snap these senior hipsters and he speaks to some of the models. Alexander then heads for a traditional and hearty lunch of chueo-tang (eel soup) in a restaurant that only serves eels — five ways. Freshly energized, Alexander heads across town to learn traditional North Korean dancing from a North Korean defector before learning how and why she escaped to the South. He then observes how taekwondo has become South Korea's national sport, followed by a visit to a tarot card reader who looks into his future. Later, Alexander meets the country's top folk drummer, who gives him a lesson in how to play the 10th-century Korean jjango drum. Alexander then takes a quick detour away from Seoul to the country's industrial capital Ulsan, where visits the cultural museum to find out the origins of South Korea's international TV hit Squid Game. Here he's pitched against children in a game of Red Light, Green Light and the Dalgona Candy Challenge. Alexander then returns to Seoul for his last evening in the capital for a special rooftop concert performed by his jjango drum tutor.

Episode 3
On the last leg of his South Korean adventure, Alexander heads to the bustling port of Busan, where South Korea's biggest fish market is to be found. Alexander gets to try some of the weirdest seafood he has ever seen, fresh from the sea, including a couple of sea creatures that are so fresh they are still moving as he bites into them. Later, travels 180 miles across the Korea Strait from Busan to the island of Jeju, where he embarks on an exhilarating climb up an extinct volcano known as Sunrise Peak.