CNN‘s ‘Reconnect South Korea’ in its 30 minutes special meets the creators, innovators, and adventurers who are reconnecting South Korea with the world.
Dalgona Coffee
The journey to reconnect South Korea begins with a cup of Dalgona coffee; a whipped, fluffy, caffeinated beverage viewed more than 12 million times. This beverage is inspired by South Korean street food, and it took the internet by storm in the early days of the pandemic. Dalgona coffee is made by whipping equal amounts of sugar, instant coffee powder, and hot water. CNN met Kim Ja-eun, the person behind this viral YouTube video. CNN also spoke to Hong Kyung-soo, the owner of the trendy Café Cha. This cafe had promoted this traditional Korean street food to a new level.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Next, ‘Reconnect South Korea’ explores the streets of Seoul, beginning with Dongdaemun Design Plaza, known for hosting international events during the pre-covid times. This place has successfully transformed itself into a digital art exhibit. Using technology, this plaza, located at the heart of the city, offers an immersive getaway to nature. CNN then goes on to visit Hyundai Card Music Library. Here, K-pop’s biggest names can connect with their fans from across the world via virtual events and concerts.
Outdoor Journey
CNN then ends the ‘Reconnect South Korea’ journey outdoors. Many Koreans escape to nature for adventure. One popular trend among the Koreans is “Cha Bak,” in which people head out outdoors for car-camping while maintaining social distance. CNN met Lee Soo-bin, a camper who documents his journey in social media. The pandemic has allowed him to grow his online presence and connect with travelers from across the world who wish to experience South Korean adventure. CNN then ends with a talk with Son Ho-young. He is a campaign gear shop owner who experienced an increase in revenue during the pandemic. He believes that the trend of car-camping has allowed many newcomers to experience the same.
While some platforms are making an online presence to entertain, others are going virtual to conduct business. The Virtual Seoul Platform, for example, is a 3D world that allows visitors to explore the city’s landmarks virtually. It also encourages international businesses to host meetings and events.
Despite the pandemic restricting travel, it has given innovators a chance to explore new trends, allowing people to enjoy a fresh take on adventures and traditions virtually with the help of technology. CNN ‘Reconnect’ helps its viewers experience the same with its 30 minutes video. It had earlier released a video on the culinary map of India.
CNN’s ‘Reconnect South Korea’:
- Reconnect South Korea trailer: https://bit.ly/3kF2DGn
- Reconnect South Korea images: https://bit.ly/2MDFKXr
Airtimes for the 30-minute special:
- Saturday, March 6 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm HKT
- Sunday, March 7 at 10:00 am HKT
- Monday, March 8 at 2:00 am, and 10:30 am HKT
