HONG KONG, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How did a relatively small country in East Asia develop such massive influence over the rest of the world, from California to Singapore and everywhere in between? CNN original series K-Everything travels to South Korea to answer this question. Through four captivating episodes, K-Everything will trace the roots of Korean culture with some of the biggest names in the country’s creative scene.
Host and executive producer, Daniel Dae Kimgoes from Seoul to Pyeongchang and beyond, on a journey of cultural exploration. Follow Kim as she uncovers the country’s complex history through travel and entertainment to discover what’s driving this global phenomenon.
“It is both a personal and professional pleasure to be able to present Korea through our series, K-Everything“, said Kim. “There has never been more interest in its people and culture, so now is the perfect time to explore the dynamics of its success. Whether you’re already a K expert or a beginner, we hope you can gain a unique and fresh perspective on a place that means so much to me.”
In the first episode, Kim explores what’s behind K-pop’s unprecedented rise on the international stage. The Korean pop industry has produced some of the most successful musical groups of all time. Behind the catchy tunes and polished choreography lies a fine-tuned formula for creating hits and harnessing the power of fans. Kim meets some of K-pop’s biggest artists, including Psych, Taeyang, JEON SOMI, Project All day And MEOVVand examines the superfan phenomenon that drives this industry.
In one generation, South Korea’s film and television industry has gone from censorship to winning Oscars and streaming records. In the second episode, Kim examines this period of rapid change and how it is sparking a new wave of storytelling. Through conversations with some of the country’s most famous creators, including lead actor Lee Byung Hundirector Yeon Sang-hoscreenwriter Kim Eun-Sookand pioneer of the entertainment industry Mike LeeKim discovers why the themes that concern Korean creatives resonate with audiences around the world.
Korean barbecue may have put K-food on the map, but it’s only one aspect of the country’s rich and diverse cuisine. In the third episode, Kim explores the meteoric rise of Korean cuisine, through conversations with legendary chefs and restaurateurs like Corey Lee, Mingoo KangAndGive Hee-sookin a story that’s not just about what to eat and how to prepare it, but also about nostalgia, pride, innovation and determination.
South Korea is widely considered the cosmetics capital of the world, with legions of fans aspiring to look like their flawless K-celebrity idols. In the latest episode of K-EverythingKim digs beneath the surface to understand why the desire to focus on appearance is deeply ingrained in Korean society, driven by rapid modernization and political change. He is joined by the top model Irene Kimand leading beauty influencer,LéoJto find out what K-beauty means to men and women in Korea.
K-Everything continues the legacy of CNN Original Series host-led storytelling that examines global culture and the human experience, joining an award-winning library of premium programming streaming on the CNN app.
The CNN original series is sponsored by one of South Korea’s largest companies, Hyundai Motor Company, a global brand deeply rooted in Korean heritage whose growth has reflected the country’s journey of innovation and progress.
K-Everything premieres Saturday, May 9 at 8 a.m. ET and reairs at 8 p.m. ET and Sunday, May 10 at 11 a.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET on CNN International. The 4-episode series will air live each week for CNN International pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN Connected TV and mobile apps. It will be available on demand beginning Saturday, May 9 to CNN streaming subscribers in the United States via CNN.com and CNN’s connected TV and mobile apps. The series will also be available to stream on HBO Max where available.
Kim is repped by UTA, Linden Entertainment, Narrative PR and Gang Tire.
K-Everything trailer: https://youtu.be/tejmMouplGQ
K-Everything pictures: https://bit.ly/3OHefMN
K-Everything microsite: http://edition.cnn.com/world/k-everything
About CNN Originals
CNN Originals Group develops, produces and acquires original, long-form, unscripted programming for CNN Worldwide. Amy Entelis, Executive Vice President of Talent, CNN Originals and Creative Development, oversees the award-winning CNN Originals portfolio which includes the following premium content brands: CNN Original Series, CNN Films, CNN Presents and the new CNN Studios, an in-house production studio that creates long-form programming for CNN’s global platforms. Since 2012, the team has overseen and produced more than 45 multi-part documentary series and 60 feature-length documentaries, winning more than 110 awards and 445 nominations for the cable network, including CNN Films’ first Oscar® forNavalny. Acclaimed titles include Peabody Award winner and 13-time Emmy® Award winner.Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown; five-time Emmy® nominee,Apollo 11directed by Todd Douglas Miller; Emmy® nomineeEva Longoria: In Search of Mexico; the “Decades Series” nominated for the Emmy® Awards:The sixties,The seventies,The 80s,The 90s,The 2000sAndThe 2010s,produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman;The latest movie starsdirected by Ethan Hawke about the lives and careers of actors and humanitarians Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman; Grammy® Award nomineeLittle Richard: I am everythingdirected by Lisa Cortés;The Many Lives of Martha Stewart;This is life with Lisa Ling; Winner of the Primetime Emmy® and duPont-Columbia Award,RGBdirected by Betsy West and Julie Cohen;See It Loud: The History of Black Televisionproduced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter;Space Shuttle Columbia: The Last Flightin partnership with the BBC; Producers Guild Award and three-time Emmy® Award winnerStanley Tucci: In Search of Italy; BAFTA nominee and Directors Guild Award winner,Three identical strangersdirected by Tim Wardle; and five-time Emmy® Award winnerUnited Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell; and five-time Emmy® Award winnerThe whole story with Anderson Cooper. CNN Originals can be seen on CNN, streaming via a CNN All Access subscription, on the CNN Original Hub on HBO Max and Discovery+, on the CNN Originals FAST channel and with a pay TV subscription viaCNN.comCNN applications and cable operator platforms.
About CNN International
CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major television, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 379 million households worldwide. CNN International is the number one international television news channel according to all major media surveys in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America. It is present in the United States, notably CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading online news, mobile news and social media network. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its global digital footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, marketed through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviors. CNN has won many prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Approximately 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced each year by CNNI’s non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a Warner Bros. company. Discovery.
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