At a point when South Korean actress Song Ji-hyo felt stuck in the monotony of her acting career, she was ready to try something new.
That “something new” turned out to be an immersive, month-long training with the seasoned haenyeo of Jeju Island for the three-episode BBC docuseries Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure.
Haenyeo, which means “sea women” in Korean, are freedivers who do not use breathing equipment to gather shellfish for their livelihood.
Song, who was in Malaysia to promote the series premiering on May 11, tells StarLifestyle via an interpreter that joining the programme was a much-needed wake-up call.
The actress is happy to be in Malaysia to talk about the documentary that renewed her zest for life. Photos: Handout
“It made me more appreciative of the small things in life, not just for myself but for everyone around me. Things I used to overlook now stand out, and I’ve learned to value them.
“With this mindset, life feels more fun now,” says Song, who has been a regular cast member on the long-running South Korean variety show Running Man since 2010.
Song Ji-hyo takes a photo with the haenyeo she trained with for one month.
Her renewed zest for her work is apparent when we come face-to-face with the friendly star, who first made her film debut in Wishing Stairs (2003) and has spent over two decades navigating roles in both romantic dramas and horror thrillers.
Song speaks about the documentary and the haenyeo way of life with such passion that she launches into long, enthusiastic explanations with very little prompting.
This is further evident in the three episodes of Deep Dive, which show her struggling multiple times to keep up with the demanding lessons – yet throughout, Song remains determined to see it through.
According to the production notes, the 43-year-old was attempting to “cram over 30 years’ worth of training into just one month”.
The Unstoppable actress admits she initially underestimated the difficulty of the challenge, thinking it wouldn’t be so hard given her background.
After all, she grew up in the coastal city of Pohang, South Korea. Her mother was a competitive swimmer, and her eldest aunt – her mother’s sister – was a haenyeo.
“To me, it wasn’t something unusual ... So, I focused only on physical strength, not underwater training (before heading to Jeju Island).
“But once I started, I really regretted not having trained in the water earlier,” she says.
Did she ever consider giving up?
“Instead of quitting when things got tough, I was actually harder on myself,” says Song, who first rose to fame through the popular 2006 series Princess Hours. Her other drama credits include The Witch’s Diner, Emergency Couple and Lovely Horribly.
“I kept thinking, ‘Why can’t I do better?’”
She adds that the tight timeline was especially stressful.
“I really felt the pressure. I wanted to show the world the strength, depth and emotion behind the haenyeo way of life – the joy, the pain and the resilience.”
She says she felt immense pressure to ensure the international audience fully grasp the haenyeo's way of life.
For Song, it wasn’t just about completing a challenge. It was about honouring a legacy.
“This work is deeply connected to our national heritage. It’s more than just a job; it’s a way of life,” she elaborates.
“The haenyeo who are still diving today carry immense pride in what they do. They bear the responsibility of preserving this cultural legacy, and they take that role very seriously.”
Despite the high-stakes training and serious atmosphere, some of the most entertaining moments in the series come from Song’s efforts to win over the veteran divers – women in their 60s, 70s and even 80s – as she joins in their daily routines beyond the sea.
These women, whom the affable star still keeps in touch with and visits whenever she returns to the island, have become more than just acquaintances.
“I didn’t expect to bond so well with the older women,” Song tells StarLifestyle, reflecting on what she learned about herself while filming the documentary.
“And I found out I’m more patient than I thought. I grew a lot as a person through this experience. I got to know the better side of me.”
Song Ji-hyo speaks about her experience after an exclusive screening of the documentary's first episode.
That personal growth has clearly stayed with her.
During a Q&A with fans after an exclusive screening of the first episode in Kuala Lumpur, Song was asked what advice she’d give to someone taking on a new challenge.
She answers: “I would say, don’t hesitate. Regret comes after trying, and it’s better to regret after trying something than to regret not trying at all.
“You have to start somewhere, and if you’re too scared to begin, then you’re holding yourself back. Regret is much bigger when you don’t try.
“So, my advice would be: have the confidence to try what you want to try. Don’t be afraid.
“And if it doesn’t turn out to be the right path for you, you can always change your mind.”
K-drama 'Princess Hours' featuring Yoon Eun-hye, Kim Jung-hoon, Song Ji-hyo and Ju Ji-hoon.
Thanks to this unique undertaking, Song says she now carries many unforgettable memories – like witnessing dolphins in the wild and discovering how sea creatures follow their own set of rules, ones that haenyeo have learned to live in harmony with.
“When I arrived in Jeju, I saw dolphins swimming freely in the ocean. And then, on my last day on the island, they appeared again – as if they were saying goodbye. It was such an unforgettable moment,” she shares.
Participating in this documentary was also a humbling experience for Song, particularly when she began to understand the physical challenges of diving.
“The deeper you go, the more intense the water pressure becomes,” she explains.
“At 10m deep, the pressure feels like it’s trying to flatten you into a sheet of paper.
“That’s when I truly understood: you don’t conquer the sea. You respect it. Nature has to allow you in.
“Some haenyeo can dive more than 20m deep, but only because the ocean accepts them.
“That taught me a deeper kind of reverence – for nature, for the sea and for the strength of these women.”
She recalls one particular dive using an oxygen tank to reach about 10m.
“What I saw down there felt like entering a whole new world. The fish had their own community, with unspoken rules and boundaries.
“They didn’t trespass into each other’s space – everything was in order, like a peaceful, underwater society.”
Her experience also deepened her environmental awareness.
“I have come to appreciate sea creatures during my time training to be a haenyeo.
“That’s when I felt that, as humans, we definitely have to protect the sea and not invade it.
“It was heartbreaking to see a lot of trash underwater when I was diving ... it’s not too late for us to start protecting our oceans.”
Running Man members (from left) Lee Kwang-soo, Ji Suk-jin, Song Ji-hyo, Kim Jong-kook and HaHa entertained an ecstatic crowd at Stadium Negara in 2014. Photo: CHAN HOW BAN/The Star
Filming Deep Dive has even given her the confidence to continue freediving – not just in Jeju, but in other parts of the world as well. She says she was recently recommended to try it in Kota Kinabalu.
“Now I am determined to visit one day,” says Song, who has often expressed her affection for Malaysia and her massive Malaysian fanbase.
“I look forward to deep diving in Kota Kinabalu, exploring the sea creatures, and learning as much as I can.”
Just like the “superhumans” she trained with, Song says she hopes to keep working for as long as possible in the entertainment industry.
“As long as I maintain my physical strength and accept the changes that come with ageing, I believe I can keep going. I may not always be at my best, but I’m OK with that.
“What matters most is accepting who I am at every stage and staying true to myself.
“As long as I keep enjoying what I do and don’t lose interest, I’ll continue to pursue it. I’ll still be here for another 20 years.”
Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure premieres May 11 at 9pm on BBC Earth (Unifi TV Ch 501/Astro Ch 554) and BBC Player.
