Daniel Dae Kim, the acclaimed actor, director, and producer, is taking viewers on a journey through South Korea's cultural explosion in the new CNN series 'K-Everything: The Global Rise of Korean Culture.' The series, which debuts Saturday on CNN International and will also be available on CNN and HBO Max, examines how Korean influences have swept the globe in just three generations.
A Personal Exploration
Kim, who was born in South Korea and moved to the United States at age one, describes the series as a love letter to K-beauty, K-pop, K-food, and K-film. 'It's an examination of how Korea has risen in the course of three short generations from a war-torn third world country to one of the most modern places in the world,' he said. 'We'll take a look at how that's happened through food, through cinema, through beauty products, and through music.'
The series features Kim attending a vibrant kimchi festival in Pyeongchang, where he explores how K-food is reshaping fine dining globally. In other episodes, he meets actor Lee Byung-hun, 'Gangnam Style' singer Psy, BigBang's Taeyang, and the songwriters behind the Oscar-winning song 'Golden.' For those unfamiliar with Korea, Kim hopes the show serves as an engaging introduction beyond textbooks.
Beauty and Beyond
In the beauty episode, Kim chats with makeup artist and influencer LeoJ and model Irene Kim about evolving beauty standards. He undergoes a salmon sperm DNA facial microinjection to reduce inflammation and improve elasticity, remarking, 'I look like I got a little sunburn and a little redder than usual, but it's not bad.' He also visits a factory where snail slime is collected for cosmetic products.
Kim's personal connection to Korea is evident, as his parents accompanied him on the journey. Seoul's rapid transformation left them disoriented, with all their childhood landmarks gone. 'It was almost a foreign country to them,' Kim noted.
A Trusted Guide
Kim joins a roster of celebrity travel hosts like Anthony Bourdain, Stanley Tucci, and Eva Longoria. He admires Bourdain's approach, saying, 'I loved it because I felt like he was showing me his take on each country and he was a trusted guide. If I can be that for some people then that's the spirit that I'd like to bring into this show.'
Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent at CNN Originals, praised Kim's unique perspective. 'From the first time I met him, it was clear he was incredibly well equipped to tackle this — deeply passionate about the subject and highly knowledgeable,' she said.
Despite being a first-time TV host, Kim felt at ease. 'I get to introduce the world to a culture that I love and has informed who I am as a performer and as a human being,' he said. 'It didn't feel at all like I was stepping outside of my comfort zone.'
Building Understanding
Kim hopes the series will foster cross-cultural understanding and combat anti-Asian racism, which surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'If we can start to understand one another a little bit better through culture, then I think it is one step toward bringing together a global community,' he said. 'And I think the world could use a little more understanding in general.'
