Discovery Channel

Incredible Story of Kimchi

SUMMARY

  • Korea’s staple dish is Kimchi. The dish is part of the Korean identity.
  • Discovery Channel and MKIM & CO. partnered with us on a documentary series about kimchi.
  • Together we created a 60-minute documentary that dives into the culture, history and science behind the world-famous dish.
  • The television show is airing globally on Discovery Channel and is available for streaming on Discovery+, AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime.

Details

Title:
The Incredible Story of Kimchi
Content Type:
Documentary Special
Platforms:
Broadcast and Streaming
Deliverables:
1 Hour Long Documentary

Services provided

Creative, Scripting, Directing, Production and Post-Production

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INTRODUCTION

Kimchi is the most famous Korean dish. The peninsula eats the side dish with almost every meal. The Korean Government has started a new initiative to promote kimchi around the world and to educate people that the best kimchi is made in Korea.

Discovery Channel were tasked to create a documentary that dives into the local delicacy. They partnered with us to bring the film to life.

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CHALLENGE

Our documentary on kimchi faced a unique challenge: most global audiences have limited familiarity with it, particularly beyond Asia. We set out to create a program that would quickly orient viewers to modern kimchi, then seamlessly transition into its deep history and cultural roots. And because it was for Discovery Channel, integrating a scientific angle was crucial. The key was bringing all these threads together into a show that was both informative and enjoyable to watch.

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SOLUTION

We envisioned a program that was segmented and fast-paced, with a modern aesthetic designed for today’s audience. We deliberately moved away from traditional, lengthy voice-overs and endless exposition. Instead, we produced a dynamic documentary that incorporated engaging segments between the historical and scientific discussions.

This approach, jumping from section to section, kept the content fresh and interesting. Segments included animated sequences explaining history and fermentation, a practical cooking class, and entertaining tasting sections. All of these elements were supported by modern designs and visuals.

Please contact us if you are interested in viewing the documentary in full.

WHERE TO WATCH

The show launched on International Kimchi Day and can be viewed on Discovery+, Discovery Channel, AppleTV+ and Amazon Prime.

Credits
Director & Writer:
Vikash Autar
Cinematographer:
Hyeong Jin Lee
Editor:
Mart Sarmiento
Colourist:
Chung Chow
Executive Producer:
Mikyung Kim
Producers:
Chelsea Li, Monica Chang, Suzanne Tung, Karen Lam
Production Company:
MKIM&CO. and ANYDOKO Studios

Client:
Korean Government
Agency:
Discovery Channel