SEOUL, 25 July 2014 – Two of South Korea’s four national TV networks are now running a total of eight unique primetime episodes featuring the Philippines starting on 14 July until 11 August 2014, the Embassy of the Philippines reported to the Department on Friday, 25 July 2014.

Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Educational Broadcasting Network (EBS), started airing on Monday, 14 July 2014 55-minute and 40-minute programs of four episodes each featuring the Philippines. The episodes were sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Seoul and Korea’s Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).

“These episodes shown on two of Korea’s most popular TV channels at very favorable time slots will no doubt further increase the already high popularity of the Philippines among Koreans,” Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez said, noting the 6:30 to 7:20 pm and 8:50 to 9:30 pm respective schedules of the two programs.

DOT Korea Tourism Director Maricon B. Ebron said the latest features about the Philippines followed the current trend and were more hands-on, noting that the MBC episodes feature celebrities getting involved in planning their own itineraries and in going around, while the EBS show follows a pop singer roughing it, backpacker style.

MBC Network’s “Travelling Man and Woman” promotes new and exotic travel destinations and cuisine around the world to Korean viewers aged 30-49. On 14 and 21 July as well as 4 and 11 August, Actress Jeong Ga-eun and professional wrestler Lee Man-ki took Korean viewers to feel and taste Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.

Public TV station EBS Network’s “World Theme Travel”, considered the most popular cultural travel documentary in South Korea since 2008, featured the singer/songwriter Kim Bada as host of “The Pearl of the Pacific: The Philippines” for four consecutive evenings until 17 July 2014.

World Theme Travel was designed to show viewers the adventures of backpack travel in different countries, with a focus on local cultures in order to obtain a better understanding on the way of life of the locals.