Great Korean Railway Journeys
2026 · BBC iPlayer · 29 min · 1 season
S01E05 · Gwangju to Jeju
Mon, 4 May, 3:00 pm
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.
About
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.
Episodes
- E01
DMZ to Seoul
Mon, 4 May· 29 minMichael 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.
- E02
Suwon to Seodaemun (Seoul)
Mon, 4 May· 28 minMichael'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.
- E03
Daejeon to Busan
Mon, 4 May· 29 minLeaving 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.
- E04
Busan to Jeonju
Mon, 4 May· 28 minMichael'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.
- E05
Gwangju to Jeju
Mon, 4 May· 29 minOn 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.
Cast
Michael Portillo
Presenter