BBC Studios has announced the Asia debut of Ed & Ryu: Mad About Seafood, a new four-part culinary adventure series premiering on 22 March across Asia on BBC Earth and the streaming platform BBC Player.

Hosted by acclaimed Korean-American chef Edward Lee and South Korean actor and television chef Ryu Su-young, the series explores South Korea’s deep connection with seafood through a journey across the country’s four seasons. The show is produced in collaboration with Korean food content specialist Studio JanChi.

Seafood And More

In the series, Lee returns to his ancestral homeland of South Korea to uncover a culinary culture shaped by the sea. While seafood has not traditionally been the centrepiece of Lee’s cooking, the journey pushes him to reconsider his approach as he encounters the diversity and traditions of Korean seafood cuisine.

Joining him is Ryu Su-young, whose extensive knowledge of Korean food culture helps guide the journey through regional customs, local ingredients and the stories behind the dishes. Together, the duo travel across the country discovering seasonal seafood traditions unique to each time of year.

Across four episodes, viewers follow the hosts as they take part in immersive culinary experiences — from learning a centuries-old winter technique for harvesting seaweed to racing across tidal mud flats to dig for clams during spring. In summer, they dive alongside Haenyeo divers, the legendary female free divers of Jeju Island known for their remarkable breath-hold diving skills.

Geography And Heritage

Beyond the food itself, the series highlights how the sea has shaped Korea’s history and resilience. Stories range from the transformation of humble monkfish into a celebrated gourmet dish to traditional bamboo anchovy weirs recognised by UNESCO for their cultural heritage value.

Ryan Shiotani, senior vice president of content at BBC Studios Asia, noted that the series reflects growing regional interest in authentic stories rooted in Asian cultures. The new show follows the success of Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure, which also explored Korea’s maritime traditions.

For Edward Lee and Ryu Su-young, the programme is an opportunity to showcase the diversity of Korean seafood cuisine to a global audience. While Korean food is widely recognised internationally for barbecue and fried chicken, the hosts believe the country’s seafood heritage deserves equal recognition.

With travel, culture and food woven together, Ed & Ryu: Mad About Seafood offers viewers a vibrant look at Korea’s coastal traditions — one dish, season and story at a time.