Alexander Armstrong In South Korea

Channel 5, 9pm

For many years overshadowed by the outrages of its totalitarian neighbour to the north, South Korea has recently begun to exert a global influence out of all proportion to its size (the total area is even less than half that of England).

In his latest travel adventure, Alexander Armstrong (right) takes the 15-hour flight to the Far East to reveal the riches of this culture, both ancient and modern, in an entertaining three-part series.

He begins in the capital city of Seoul, which is only 30 miles from the dangerous border with North Korea and home to an incredible 26 million residents – about half the population of the entire country.

It’s a chance for Armstrong to unpick the magic of K-Pop, while also delving into the national obsession with plastic surgery and discovering the surprisingly upbeat Korean attitude to death. ★★★★★