ht. it just seems really high. do not go over there. oh, my god. who voluntarily runs off a-- [laughter] look at my hands!

oh, no! are we running? this is a lot. go, go, go, go, go! [screams] what? [theme music] (singing) gonna give up and be my-- be, be my-- sibley scoles (voiceover): while the capital city of seoul, south korea is where the heart of the country resides, the locals and tourists alike retreat to the beautiful and untouched region of gangwon province, to restore their energy, mind, body, and soul. and this region has come to make a name for itself on the global stage, hosting the 2018 winter olympics. and nowhere is the host city's achievements more proudly on display than in the halls of its newly

constructed museum, as museum director youngil lee explains. so here we are. pyeongchang. pyeongchang olympic museum, dedicated to the 2018 winter olympics. what are the emotions when you walk in here. i love that all of the exhibits are pretty much interactive. what's your favorite sport? bobsled. yeah, bobsled? did i get it? whoa! ski jump. ski jump. jump. ski jump. oh, my goodness. this is intense. [screams]

i love that everywhere you walk in here, the displays really show the heart and soul of what 2018 was in those games. kimchi! commentator: one from the north, one from the south, and one moment in olympic history. sibley scoles (voiceover): and the 2018 olympic games literally brought the prospect of a more peaceful world to reality. so it's amazing that this type of relationship had never happened before between north and south korea, but sport was able to bring them together. sibley scoles (voiceover): and built on the principle of peace and unity and sportsmanship, gangwon will once again be center stage as it hosts the winter youth olympics in 2024.

i have a surprise for you! sibley scoles (voiceover): and passing that torch on to the next generation is short track superstar hwang dae-heon, who just captured gold in the 2022 olympics. commentator: here comes wong dae-heon around the last turn. and hwang dae-heon will cross first. is there something that you've seen him do that you love? everything. everything! how does it feel for you to be able to represent your country on that global stage? what were the emotions you were feeling when you won that gold medal? how old are you? i'm 11.

13, 12, and everyone else is 11. when i was 11, i was not doing this. [laughing] knowing what you've been through, how important are the youth olympics to guide young people to get to where you're at today? show of hands, who here wants to be an olympian? you all make it look so beautiful, and i make it look like yikes. sibley scoles (voiceover): and medals aren't the only golden prize this olympian has captured. the food is here!

sibley scoles (voiceover): upon securing a world record and top podium perch in the 2022 games, hwang was gifted a lifetime pension of his favorite food, korean fried chicken. olympic athletes really eat like this? all the time? that is awesome. ok, so between you, me, all these kids here, you're picking up the bill, right? nae. do you feel a responsibility to pave the way for the young people here in south korea? cross and straight. ok, corner. yeah, corner, cross. is that right? do you have any advice for any of them, besides practice and keep trying?

wow, i did it! 2024, i'll be looking for everyone, ok? the future definitely is bright. and you set the pace. thank you. i think this is a perfect ending to the tour, with this beautiful backdrop, the cauldron behind us. what does it mean to the province to have the winter youth olympic games? here's to 2024.

when i was his age, we had to be inside to watch live sports. [theme music] but with xfinity, we get the fastest mobile service and can stream down the street or around the block! hey, can you be less sister, more car? all right, let's get this over with. switch to xfinity mobile and get the best price for 2 lines of unlimited. just $30 a line per month. i should get paid more for this. you get paid when you win. from xfinity. home of the 10g network.

[humming] sibley scoles (voiceover): once the national religion of the region, buddhism has long impacted the history, spirituality, and culture of south korea. i just learned that the ladies will be going on stage in their traditional hanbok. they're all covered in pink. sibley scoles (voiceover): while visiting the woljeongsa temple complex is a transformative experience, being here to celebrate buddha's birthday is truly enlightening.

and in the neighboring odaesan meditation village, those looking for a retreat can stay and focus on mind, body, and soul. i'm so ready for this. [singing in korean] in the states, our getaways or our spa days have nothing on this. i know you've been here 15 years. yes. what is so special about this area, and what makes you love it so much? sibley scoles (voiceover): and buddhist monks wol eom and seon

gong teach a variety of meditation techniques on the expansive grounds. how would you describe meditation? it's beautiful. thank you for sharing this tea with me. consistency until it's a part of you

and you don't have to think about it again. while we're walking, while we're doing the yoga, the tea, having this meal, the appreciation and the meditation never stops. i think this is one of my favorite meals. sometimes, especially in the recent years, i've had trouble staying still and trying to focus. so this is new territory for me.

[chime] i can feel your feeling. [laughs] i've never cried drinking tea before. [laughs] so here in south korea, kongwan province, meditation really is for everyone. yeah. yeah. i feel absolutely free. it feels like i can breathe easier and just be. announcer: "first look" is sponsored by gangwon province, south korea.

[theme music] sibley scoles (voiceover): by definition, the korean peninsula is enveloped by water. and coastal counties like yangyang are increasingly drawing people to their pristine shores. how many years has it been that this community of surfers in yangyang has been growing? growing. yeah. not so long, like five years, four years. it was getting popular like crazy now. it's really crazy. everybody want to learn how to surf. so where are you from originally? i born in daegu city. daegu is the middle of korea. so no ocean. none? yeah, no ocean!

what drew you to come here? how did to find this city? sibley scoles (voiceover): and it's here on namae beach that national surfing champion leena mun opened leena surf, providing access and instruction to anyone looking to tame these swells. everyone's working together to build the community, and not just separate. everyone's one whole group.

sibley scoles (voiceover): but leena's got one powerful distinction that makes her shop pop. when you see people with the pink surfboards, your name out on the ocean, is that a special feeling for you? yes. my customer always wear the shirt. like, if there's a sudden dangerous situation, i can see. so that's why my signature color is pink. knowing how much this atmosphere and the nature just being here and being out on the water brings joy to you, is that what you try to give back to your students every time they go out there?

mic drop. [laughs] the feeling that i'm getting right now, this is definitely a community. yes. sibley scoles (voiceover): just a bit further north and the town of jukdo reveals its laid back charm. this view, can we take it in for a second? because-- - yeah. --you can't get tired of that. yeah, this place is a hot spot. sibley scoles (voiceover): singer performer tim hwang, known to his legion of fans as the ballad prince, or simply as tim, moved to south korea from philadelphia 20 years ago to pursue a successful career in music. [singing] - ok. - they're singing my song. i know! amazing. sibley scoles (voiceover): but it's in yangyang that tim found a more grounded footing. and he's not alone in his pursuit of escapism. people just come here for overnight? oh, some people stay. actually, they tent up for weeks. this looks very cozy. yeah, brings you back down to earth, right?

we're on our phone all the time, and you end up living this like weird pseudo life, digital life. yeah. and it's hard to stay present. and then all of a sudden, you come to yangyang, the east coast, and all of a sudden, life is-- it just slows down. sibley scoles: yeah. tim hwang: and you get to see this beautiful water, the waves. and then people just live a different speed here. and that's honestly why i'm here. i love this. hi. he's my next door neighbor. is he a good neighbor? yeah. [laughs] tim hwang: when i see this, it reminds me-- it's like, dude, there's so much beauty. i said, dude. sorry. dude, i like it! dude, i was feeling you, but i said, dude. dude, there is so much beauty out here! dude, there's some beauty. oh, his daughter and his wife is here. oh, the family's here. yeah. the simplicity of just, come stay by the fire. you said it right-- simplicity. because we always think we need this and we need that. and there's so much i think that-- appreciate it, girl. --if you strip it down, you just need the family. you need the love. exactly. can i get some love? pound it. i see-- oh!

oh, yes! sibley scoles (voiceover): as fireworks set off the night sky at tim's studio, moments by tora, truly dynamite dogs fill our stomach and goodwill fills the air. and the night is just getting started. this has been nothing short of magical. to shaka life. yes. tim hwang: shaka. - cheers. - cheers. cheers, guys. lift your lashes to the next level.

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there's no sound here. mm-mm. i hear the bee buzzing. oh, yeah. and the water is so still. well, i can see why people would want to be in this area. here we go. sibley scoles (voiceover): in the lush mountains of gangwon province is a place where south koreans come to reconnect with nature and their history. we're going to get a beautiful sunny day. have you seen the map of korea? yes. this area became popular because it's shaped like the korean peninsula, with the south korea and north korea together. sibley scoles (voiceover): though the surrounding nature is exquisite, people don't come just for the breathtaking cliffs, caves, capes, and valleys, but rather the tale of a banished king. i'm excited to do this. this is my first time. sibley scoles (voiceover): in the 1440s, the teenage king danjong was dethroned by his power-hungry uncle and sent into exile in yeongwol county. are we here? we're here. after you. when i told my friends that i'm going to yeongwol,

they jokingly said, are you being exiled? oh, no! sibley scoles (voiceover): the young king watched the sky, waited for rescue. it was this high? oh, my god. sibley scoles (voiceover): and spent his adolescence in solitude. go, go, go, go, go! king danjong who was eventually killed. right. by king sejom his own uncle. oh, my gosh! this is insane. sibley scoles (voiceover): but even the saddest stories can have a happy ending. just look up. [laughs] sibley scoles (voiceover): though danjong was banished, his legacy lives on. oh, baby. oh, my gosh. it's beautiful! i can literally see everything from up here. sibley scoles (voiceover): and while few remember the name of his overly ambitious uncle, king danjong is a source of celebration here in yeongwol. i have tears in my eyes. [laughs] we actually established a cultural festival. and we use that to celebrate how to respect each other, how to be a greater supporter for our loved ones.

sibley scoles: that's so beautiful. i know you wrote about the story and the history. and a lot of young people do come here to be and feel the presence that he had. people don't take it as something like some boring historical facts. right. they just try to relate to him, because basically any little stones, any little pebbles you can find there, the prince would have played with it centuries ago. sibley scoles: i think knowing now the history, it really changes the way you feel when you walk through the trees and you feel the breeze. there's so much more to it. sibley scoles (voiceover): the gangwon province is a majestic piece of an impressive peninsula, vibrant coastlines, mesmerizing landscapes, and collective competition. anchored in historical traditions, steeped in cultural richness, and fully equipped with a deeply rooted sense of community, this region leaves

you with a singular sensation. woohoo!

. - your first kiss. your first child. your first divorce. these touchstones in life pale in comparison to the first time you've humiliated yourself on a game show. tonight, seven contestants will add one more indelible memory as, one by one, they're voted off for being the weakest link. [dramatic music] ♪ welcome to the "weakest link." [cheers and applause] well, every once in a while, i can use a good cry, so please introduce yourselves so i can be bored into tears. - my name is adu. i'm from oakland, california,