EBS' "Knowledge Channel e" returns with a three-part special that links climate science, traditional craftsmanship and seasonal culture through a shared question: What have we overlooked in the things we think we already understand?
Airing July 6-8, the series journeys from Antarctica's rapidly changing ice sheets to one of Korea's finest handcrafted fans before concluding with a fresh look at Boknal, the midsummer observance long associated with restorative meals. Together, the three episodes invite viewers to reconsider familiar subjects from unexpected perspectives.
The opening episode travels to Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, widely known as the 'Doomsday Glacier' because of its potential impact on global sea-level rise. Rather than presenting climate change as an abstract warning, the documentary follows researchers from the Korea Polar Research Institute as they drill nearly 934 meters beneath the ice, capturing rare footage from a world few have ever seen. The expedition suggests that changes beneath the glacier may already be underway, underscoring that the climate crisis is no longer a distant possibility but an unfolding reality.
The second episode turns to habjukseon, Korea's traditional bamboo folding fan. Although it appears simple, every fan is the result of painstaking craftsmanship, requiring bamboo to be split, joined and assembled entirely by hand. By following each step of the process, the program explores why the fan was once treasured by Joseon-era scholars and asks what value handmade craftsmanship still holds in an increasingly automated world.
The final installment revisits Boknal, the hottest days of the Korean summer. While the season is now best known for its nourishing dishes, the documentary traces its origins to a tradition of communal care. Long before Boknal became associated with specific foods, it was a time for neighbors and families to look after one another, share meals and endure the summer heat together. The program argues that this spirit of mutual support remains as meaningful today as ever.
Though each episode explores a different subject, the three-part special is united by a common theme: encouraging viewers to rethink the natural world, cultural heritage and everyday traditions through a fresh lens. Rather than offering simple conclusions, "Knowledge Channel e" leaves audiences with questions that linger long after each episode ends.
"Knowledge Channel e" airs July 6-8 at 12:40 a.m. KST on EBS1.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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