Travel
Station:
BBC iPlayer (GB)
Status:
To Be Determined
Start:
2026-05-04
Rating:
0/10 from 0 users
Great Korean Railway Journeys sees Michael travel the length of South Korea, beginning in the Demilitarised Zone through Seoul and beyond on high-speed trains exceeding 200 miles per hour. From a peninsula defined by division and war to a capital transformed by rapid development, he examines South Korea's emergence as a global force in technology and culture. Visiting ancient royal sites, industrial centres and major ports, and continuing to Busan and Jeju Island, he traces stories of resilience, reinvention and national identity.
There is no Next Episode of Great Korean Railway Journeys planned.
S1E1 - DMZ to Seoul
Michael begins his journey at the tense frontier of the Demilitarised Zone before heading to the capital of Seoul, a vast-fast moving city that has become one of the world's most advanced cities.
Air Date: 04 May 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E2 - Suwon to Seodaemun (Seoul)
Michael's South Korean railway journey continues in Seoul. Travelling across one of the world's largest metro systems, he heads south to Suwon to visit Samsung's headquarters.
Air Date: 04 May 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E3 - Daejeon to Busan
Leaving Seoul aboard South Korea's high-speed KTX train, Michael travels south through the heart of the country to explore how rail has shaped both its economy and identity.
Air Date: 04 May 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E4 - Busan to Jeonju
Michael's journey continues in Busan, South Korea's second city, on the country's south eastern coast. Later, he heads to Jeonju, where he meets a master craftsman producing hanji paper.
Air Date: 04 May 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E5 - Gwangju to Jeju
On the final leg of his journey, Michael travels to South Korea's south west, where food, protest and landscape reveal the values that have shaped the modern nation.
Air Date: 04 May 2026 00:00 (CDT)