0:00:02 > 0:00:03Korea.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09An ancient mountain kingdom.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17A land divided by conflict.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32But in the natural world, there is another side to Korea.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41In the south are pockets of untouched wilderness.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Rich habitats...
0:00:55 > 0:00:58..with extraordinary creatures...
0:01:15 > 0:01:18..and spectacular natural events.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25HE SHOUTS
0:01:31 > 0:01:37A place where nature and mankind have lived in harmony for centuries.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48This is Korea.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Korea lies on the eastern edge of Asia.
0:02:03 > 0:02:09The peninsula is 700 miles long and 150 miles across...
0:02:09 > 0:02:11..and is split into two nations.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16But long before modern conflict divided the land...
0:02:17 > 0:02:21..tectonic plates collided to create a dramatic landscape.
0:02:29 > 0:02:3260 million years ago,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36unimaginable forces raised the jagged peaks that dominate
0:02:36 > 0:02:38the east of Korea.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49In the central region are lush, temperate forests.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Further south, these give way to fertile wetlands.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06And where the land finally meets the sea,
0:03:06 > 0:03:10the shallow incline creates vast tidal ranges...
0:03:11 > 0:03:12..with endless mudflats...
0:03:14 > 0:03:16..teeming with life.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Korea is surrounded on three sides by ocean.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31It has over 5,000 miles of coastline.
0:03:37 > 0:03:42In the far south, the islands of Jeju
0:03:42 > 0:03:44are home to a resident population
0:03:44 > 0:03:47of Indo-Pacific bottlenosed dolphins.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Dolphins are often wide-ranging...
0:04:08 > 0:04:11..travelling from place to place in search of food.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16But this group chooses to live here all year round,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18in the bountiful waters
0:04:18 > 0:04:22around these volcanic islands.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Bottlenose dolphins are highly social creatures...
0:04:42 > 0:04:45..and live in tight-knit matriarchal pods.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Group members communicate constantly.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Each dolphin is identified by its own signature whistle.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03And they are quick to recognise
0:05:03 > 0:05:06the presence of any strangers in their territory.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15Today their curiosity is piqued by a presence here that is almost
0:05:15 > 0:05:17as ancient as their own.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31Dolphins can be wary of divers, but not of this one.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Like them, she dives free,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39exploring the depths on a single breath.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47The pods have grown up sharing these waters
0:05:47 > 0:05:50with an all-female free diving community...
0:05:52 > 0:05:54..known as the Haenyeo,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56sea women.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08She scours the sea bed in search of its natural treasures.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22They live in harmony,
0:06:22 > 0:06:25as they have done for hundreds of years.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Soon the season will change,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34and these waters will be filled with prizes for the Haenyeo.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52300 miles north, on the Korean mainland...
0:06:54 > 0:06:57..the palaces of the Joseon kings...
0:06:58 > 0:07:01..an imposing legacy of the powerful dynasty
0:07:01 > 0:07:03that once ruled here.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25But the palaces are now home to a family of a different kind.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42A family of raccoon dogs.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Though they are named for their resemblance,
0:07:46 > 0:07:51they are much more closely related to dogs than they are raccoons.
0:07:55 > 0:08:00This opportunistic family have left their usual forest dwelling
0:08:00 > 0:08:02for the safety of the palace grounds.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08For the most part, life is good here.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17But they're not the only ones to take advantage
0:08:17 > 0:08:18of the opportunities here.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25There is a rival group that occupies
0:08:25 > 0:08:28the other side of the palace grounds.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41With young pups, the family's father must be extra vigilant.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55At around four months old, pups learn to forage for themselves.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05But hunting insects requires a little practice.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Raccoon dogs will eat almost anything.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Tonight the family is anticipating
0:09:51 > 0:09:54something extra-special on the menu...
0:10:08 > 0:10:09..cicada nymphs.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17A lavish banquet of juicy beetles.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25The nymphs emerge en masse during a narrow window in the summer.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32For one night only, the family will have more food than they can eat.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40The nymphs have spent five years slowly growing in the soil.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46They must now find higher ground...
0:10:47 > 0:10:51..where they can metamorphosise into their flying form.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Such rich rewards attract hungry rivals.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16A pack of young males from the far side of the palace grounds are also
0:11:16 > 0:11:18eager to have their fill.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Distracted by the feast,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35the usually wary father has strayed into harm's way.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46He is outnumbered, and in danger.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03The mother and pups retreat to a safe distance.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Their father escapes,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21injured, but lucky to be alive.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26His mate tends to his wounds.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34The palace may provide rich feeding grounds
0:12:34 > 0:12:37but such wealth comes at a price.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Some of the cicadas have reached their destination.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52After years of lying underground, the lucky ones will get their wings.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57During metamorphosis, they are at their most vulnerable.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05But up here, at least they are safe from the hungry pups.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Now they will devote the last chapter of their life,
0:13:12 > 0:13:13just one month,
0:13:13 > 0:13:15to finding a mate.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20It is a cycle that has played out here for hundreds of years.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28During this time, the world beyond these walls has changed.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37The palace is now surrounded by South Korea's capital city,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Seoul.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51Seoul is home to one of the most densely packed human populations
0:13:51 > 0:13:52on the planet.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02It is easy to see why the raccoon dogs seek refuge in the palace.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16But there are places where humans and nature coexist
0:14:16 > 0:14:17in perfect harmony.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23The island of Marado...
0:14:24 > 0:14:26..the southernmost point of Korea.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Beyond the cliffs and caves, there is a small community,
0:14:36 > 0:14:41the Haenyeo, sea women, as they are known here.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Today they are preparing for an important dive.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01There are men on the island too,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03but a sisterhood drives the local economy.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Most divers are over the age of 60...
0:15:12 > 0:15:14..and some are much older.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20At this time of the year
0:15:20 > 0:15:24the waters here provide an abundant crop of conches -
0:15:24 > 0:15:27a highly valuable mollusc.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37The Haenyeo only harvest the conches after the breeding season,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40to ensure the harvest remains sustainable.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Choon Geom Kim is captain.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48She must decide if it's safe to dive.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Wal Soo Ra is the oldest living Haenyeo.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40In fact, she is the oldest diver anywhere in the world.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59She is now 94 years old.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04The dive captain has decided they will dive.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Conditions are not ideal but the conch season is short
0:17:10 > 0:17:13and they must make the most of it.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43An experienced Haenyeo can dive to depths of 20 metres
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and hold her breath for more than two minutes.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09This places significant stresses on the body.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14There is a very real risk of blackout,
0:18:14 > 0:18:18as the Haenyeo repeatedly travel between the surface and the sea bed.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30As they dive, their heart rate slows,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34and blood is shifted from their extremities to their core...
0:18:35 > 0:18:38..increasing the availability of oxygen.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46The Haenyeo benefit from this adaptation,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50to enable them to keep working on their long, cold dives.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57But it's exhausting work, even for the younger divers.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49She may not be able to hold her breath for as long as she once did,
0:19:49 > 0:19:56but, at 94, Wal Soo Ra is still capable of diving all day.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24The women work together against a rising tide.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34The waters here are changeable...
0:20:35 > 0:20:39..and the longer they stay, the greater the risk.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45But the season is short...
0:20:46 > 0:20:48..so the women must persist...
0:20:49 > 0:20:52..and reap the harvest while it is there.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Back on the Korean mainland,
0:21:01 > 0:21:03deep in the forests of Yangpyeong...
0:21:04 > 0:21:08..there are other female workers, reaping a harvest.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Eastern honey bees.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Workers collecting pollen.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23They belong to an enormous colony...
0:21:24 > 0:21:27..of 30,000 bees.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32The colony has made its home here in this hollow tree...
0:21:33 > 0:21:35..which offers shelter from the elements.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43Inside the tree is a complex and cooperative society.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47All the bees are dedicated to the colony...
0:21:52 > 0:21:55..at times vibrating their bodies
0:21:55 > 0:21:58to produce heat and maintain a perfect temperature
0:21:58 > 0:22:00for the next generation.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08But the bees are not alone in the forest.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16An Asian giant hornet has identified their location.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24The hornet studies the nest
0:22:24 > 0:22:27before returning to its own colony.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37This scout has information to share.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Using an advanced form of chemical communication,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47the scout passes on details of the exact location
0:22:47 > 0:22:49of the honey bees' nest.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05The scout returns.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11The bees shake in unison to warn off the hornet.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15But this time he is not alone.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27The hornets do sometimes eat the bees themselves
0:23:27 > 0:23:32but they are more interested in the protein-rich larvae inside.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Individual bees have no chance against the hornets.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Gradually they weaken the bees' defence.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50There are many casualties.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00But it will take more than this to overcome the colony.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11The bees prepare to fight back.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18The counterattack is started by a handful of worker bees.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24It appears suicidal.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29But the bees are programmed to lay down their lives
0:24:29 > 0:24:32for the survival of the colony.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36And the tables begin to turn.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44Bee stings can't kill the hornets.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50But they do weaken them.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04As the bees gain the upper hand, pushing their attackers back...
0:25:06 > 0:25:08..they now release the full force
0:25:08 > 0:25:12of their defence for the last remaining hornet.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25They swarm, immobilising it.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31The bees vibrate,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34raising the temperature at the centre to a level
0:25:34 > 0:25:36the hornet cannot withstand.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41And the hornet is cooked alive.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51The bees have developed this unique and effective defence over millennia.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Many more bees than hornets died in this encounter.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08But their colony has survived...
0:26:09 > 0:26:12..and will continue to thrive here in the forest...
0:26:14 > 0:26:16..until the next encounter.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24200 miles away...
0:26:26 > 0:26:31..the mud flats of Suncheon Bay in the south of the Korean mainland.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40During the monsoon, they receive one of the highest
0:26:40 > 0:26:43levels of rainfall anywhere in Korea.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50It can rain constantly here for weeks at a time.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59But it is not the torrential downpours
0:26:59 > 0:27:01that have shaped this landscape.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Suncheon Bay is a tidal ecosystem
0:27:09 > 0:27:12that is neither land nor sea.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Each day, the tidal waters of the bay withdraw
0:27:18 > 0:27:22to reveal over eight square miles of thick mud -
0:27:22 > 0:27:25a seemingly inhospitable landscape.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30But the local people thrive here,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33as they have done for thousands of years.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39No modern vehicle can cross the mud.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45Instead, the local people get around here on specially designed boards.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56It is hard going but the rewards are huge.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11The mud of the day is rich in nutrients
0:28:11 > 0:28:15and supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in Korea.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Today the mud flat industry is larger than ever before.
0:28:34 > 0:28:38Seafood makes up a huge part of the Korean diet.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43And much of it comes from Suncheon Bay.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Thousands of tonnes are harvested here every year.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03Yet, despite the increase in fishing activity in the bay,
0:29:03 > 0:29:05the mudflats are so rich
0:29:05 > 0:29:07that they are quick to replenish
0:29:07 > 0:29:09what is taken out during the harvest.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Some of the most abundant creatures here
0:29:19 > 0:29:22are various forms of mudskipper,
0:29:22 > 0:29:24the misfits of the aquatic world.
0:29:26 > 0:29:31They spend almost as much time out of the water as they do in it.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36And that's possible as long as they remain moist,
0:29:36 > 0:29:40allowing them to absorb oxygen through their skin.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54There are several different species of mudskipper here.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58Shuttles hoppfish is among the smallest.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06This male is just five centimetres long,
0:30:06 > 0:30:09and he has only just reached sexual maturity.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Now this young hopeful must find himself a mate.
0:30:26 > 0:30:3370 miles north is Upo, the largest natural swampland in South Korea.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41This prehistoric wetland is home to many rare species,
0:30:41 > 0:30:44and it's a protected conservation zone.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55In summer much of Upo is carpeted with lilies.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03One of the most prolific is the ancient and aptly-named
0:31:03 > 0:31:05prickly water lily.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17The jacana has developed
0:31:17 > 0:31:19exceptionally long toes
0:31:19 > 0:31:22to spread its weight across the thin lilies
0:31:22 > 0:31:25and create a bridge above the spikes.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32But even for jacana, it takes a little practice.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43Their reward is an abundance of insect life
0:31:43 > 0:31:45on the surface of the water.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16As night falls over the wetlands,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19another type of predator takes their place on the lilies.
0:32:30 > 0:32:31A raft spider.
0:32:39 > 0:32:40For an ambush predator...
0:32:42 > 0:32:44..location is everything.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01She cleverly positions herself where the traffic is busiest.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10Highly sensitive to vibrations,
0:33:10 > 0:33:13these spiders can detect potential prey
0:33:13 > 0:33:15beneath the surface of the water.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29But this is no ordinary insect-eating spider.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33She has bigger fish to fry.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41She is poised, ready to strike.
0:33:48 > 0:33:49The first attempt fails...
0:33:51 > 0:33:52..and the prey escapes.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04Patience, however, is the fisherman's best weapon.
0:34:09 > 0:34:10She bides her time...
0:34:16 > 0:34:17Success!
0:34:21 > 0:34:26The spider immediately sinks its hollow fangs into the prey
0:34:26 > 0:34:28to deliver a lethal dose of venom.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36And it's over within a matter of moments.
0:34:47 > 0:34:5020 miles away is Junam reservoir...
0:34:53 > 0:34:57..the site of one of Korea's most spectacular natural events.
0:35:12 > 0:35:19A cloud of Baikal teal, all soaring in perfect unison.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Junam reservoir is the largest
0:35:27 > 0:35:29migratory bird sanctuary in South Korea.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33The lake never freezes,
0:35:33 > 0:35:38making it a perfect winter stopover for many migrating birds.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52Each year, around a million of these water birds arrive in Korea.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57They migrate from eastern Siberia...
0:35:58 > 0:36:00..in search of warmer climes.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23They fly in dense formations, wing tip to wing tip.
0:36:43 > 0:36:48This hypnotic spectacle has earned these visitors a unique place
0:36:48 > 0:36:50in the heart of Korean culture.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58In this part of the world, many birds are seen as sacred.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05One of the most revered species
0:37:05 > 0:37:09lives in the mountainous forests of central Korea.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Amongst the dense woodland, an ancient tradition endures.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27That of the falconer.
0:37:27 > 0:37:33Yong Soon Park has recently captured a goshawk from the wild,
0:37:33 > 0:37:37and is crafting a sichimi.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40Equipment like this cannot be bought.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Each falconer must learn to craft his own.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47It is a part of the tradition.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54The feather and bell help to track his bird,
0:37:54 > 0:37:57and the bull-horned head shows that the bird belongs to him.
0:37:59 > 0:38:00At least, for now.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Goshawks are as individual as we are.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10Some are nervous,
0:38:10 > 0:38:13others are stubborn.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26So the falconer must learn to tailor his approach.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44More than anything, falconry requires trust.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51Falconer Park has spent many, many hours with his hawk,
0:38:51 > 0:38:52to build that bond.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03But however strong their connection, it is also fleeting.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06HAWK SQUEAKS
0:39:09 > 0:39:10HE MAKES CLICKING NOISES
0:39:23 > 0:39:27The most important tradition of Korean falconry
0:39:27 > 0:39:31is that the falconers do not keep their birds for life.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36They accept that a hawk is wild and can never be fully tamed.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59HE SHOUTS
0:40:19 > 0:40:22The goshawk has short, wide wings,
0:40:22 > 0:40:27allowing it to pass through gaps at speeds of up to 40mph...
0:40:32 > 0:40:35..and a long rudder-like tail for sharp turns.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57That makes it an extremely successful hunter.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33In Suncheon Bay, it's the mating season for mudskippers,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36and this young male is searching for a suitable mate.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52It appears the odds are stacked against him.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59In his quest, he must cross open water
0:42:59 > 0:43:03to reach a potential mating site on the far side.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09There are predators in these waters.
0:43:22 > 0:43:27He makes it across, but is not yet completely out of harm's way.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35Mudskippers, although hardly considered a delicacy...
0:43:37 > 0:43:38..are eaten.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42They are also used in Chinese medicine
0:43:42 > 0:43:46and there is a profit to be made for this fisherman.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01A near miss.
0:45:14 > 0:45:19The young mudskipper escapes and moves on to unexplored territory.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Other species of mudskipper can be territorial.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41Some are highly aggressive.
0:45:47 > 0:45:48He wisely moves on.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58Eventually, the young male spots a patch he likes the look of.
0:46:01 > 0:46:02Far fewer rivals.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08This will do very nicely.
0:46:14 > 0:46:15A single female.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21He performs his courtship dance.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27She seems unimpressed.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38But he shuffles a little closer...
0:46:44 > 0:46:45..and tries again.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53She is much larger,
0:46:53 > 0:46:56so this is very much her decision to make.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04Just when it looks like the young male's luck has run out...
0:47:08 > 0:47:10..she appears to have a change of heart.
0:47:18 > 0:47:19He sucks her face...
0:47:22 > 0:47:24..and she is not completely put off.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35The pairing has been agreed.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40But the next stage won't happen in front of an audience.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46Their mating will take place below ground...
0:47:48 > 0:47:50..safely inside a mud burrow.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05North of the mudflats of Suncheon
0:48:05 > 0:48:09is a very different but equally rich environment.
0:48:11 > 0:48:1760% of South Korea is forested and much of its biodiversity is found
0:48:17 > 0:48:19in these ecosystems.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33This peculiar-looking creature is a beetle larva.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37It is following a trail across the forest floor.
0:48:39 > 0:48:40A slime trail...
0:48:42 > 0:48:44..left by its intended prey.
0:49:04 > 0:49:08The helpless marsh snail produces a foaming mucus
0:49:08 > 0:49:11in an attempt to confuse its attacker.
0:49:15 > 0:49:16But to no avail.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24The larva injects paralysing digestive fluids
0:49:24 > 0:49:26directly into the snail...
0:49:28 > 0:49:30..and begins to feed.
0:49:40 > 0:49:42It may seem cruel...
0:49:43 > 0:49:47..but the beetle must feed to fulfil its role in life.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02The nutrients it has gained will help its transformation.
0:50:03 > 0:50:07Bioluminescent chemicals in its abdomen begin to glow.
0:50:11 > 0:50:16It is a firefly larva, and once freed from its casing,
0:50:16 > 0:50:18it lights up the dark skies...
0:50:22 > 0:50:25..a spectacle South Korea is renowned for.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35Proof that in nature,
0:50:35 > 0:50:40scenes of great beauty can often conceal a darker reality.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54In the southern province of Jeju,
0:50:54 > 0:50:57the conch season is drawing to a close.
0:51:00 > 0:51:06For many years, the island was known as Geumdo, meaning "forbidden",
0:51:06 > 0:51:09because of the treacherous conditions here.
0:51:12 > 0:51:13The sea is rough
0:51:13 > 0:51:17but the Haenyeo have been diving all day.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23There is still an abundance of conch to collect.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31The Haenyeo are highly sensitive
0:51:31 > 0:51:34to any changes in the underwater currents.
0:51:34 > 0:51:39Even a small change down here can signal life-threatening conditions.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00But the Haenyeo are tenacious.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04Today, despite the increasing risk,
0:52:04 > 0:52:08they decide to stay in the water and now, they must work quickly.
0:52:46 > 0:52:50Finally, with their nets filled, their work is done.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Exhausted from hours of diving, they are vulnerable.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23Having lost one woman to the sea last year,
0:53:23 > 0:53:26they know all too well the cost of making a mistake now.
0:54:04 > 0:54:09With a final effort, they drag their heavy nets out of the water.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40All that remains now is to weigh the day's catch.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54The signs are good.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56The harvest has been a successful one.
0:54:58 > 0:55:01The risks that they have taken have paid off.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18But, the day has taken its toll...
0:55:21 > 0:55:24..more so for some than others.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30The Haenyeo will return to dive again tomorrow.
0:55:32 > 0:55:33But perhaps not all of them.
0:56:11 > 0:56:17Wal Soo Ra has worked in the waters of Marado for 80 years,
0:56:17 > 0:56:20sharing them with the others that live here.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25She hopes that the knowledge she has gained will be passed on...
0:56:27 > 0:56:30..and that the Haenyeo culture will continue to prosper here...
0:56:32 > 0:56:34..existing in harmony with the seas.
0:56:44 > 0:56:49The traditional ways of life that endure in Korea today remind us
0:56:49 > 0:56:52that people have thrived for millennia,
0:56:52 > 0:56:56living harmoniously with the natural world...
0:56:58 > 0:57:01..and its many fascinating inhabitants.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13In Korea today, as in much of the developed world...
0:57:14 > 0:57:16..things are changing quickly.
0:57:18 > 0:57:22But wild Korea still has its treasures...
0:57:23 > 0:57:25..and its place in the country's heart.