The interest that television viewers have in television documentaries is originated from the desire to know the real world. Making images of subjects allows reproduction of subjects and acquisition of the means to present virtual images, in other words, portray virtual existence rather than real existence. An especially noticeable issue with respect to this ability is that the documentary a genre which is expected to deliver reality, has been producing digital rather than ‘real’ images, amid development of digital images that allow television viewers to experience a variety of forms of television images. Therefore, it is open to discussion how virtual images rather than real images can define reality and whether virtual reality in documentaries can be a reasonable method to deliver meanings. The subject of the study is ‘Noodle Road’, a five-part documentary series that was aired on the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) in 2009 and evoked considerable comment. The study aims to analyze one very distinctive element of the program, remarkably beautiful virtual images produced Imaging software, namely digital images which are suitable for high-definition television (HD TV). Virtual images which are more ‘realistic’ than real existence were studied using Jean Baudrillard’s simulation theory, and the appropriateness of this new way of producing television documentaries was also examined in this study.

The interest that television viewers have in television documentaries is originated from the desire to know the real world. Making images of subjects allows reproduction of subjects and acquisition of the means to present virtual images, in other words, portray virtual existence rather than real existence. An especially noticeable issue with respect to this ability is that the documentary a genre which is expected to deliver reality, has been producing digital rather than ‘real’ images, amid development of digital images that allow television viewers to experience a variety of forms of television images. Therefore, it is open to discussion how virtual images rather than real images can define reality and whether virtual reality in documentaries can be a reasonable method to deliver meanings. The subject of the study is ‘Noodle Road’, a five-part documentary series that was aired on the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) in 2009 and evoked considerable comment. The study aims to analyze one very distinctive element of the program, remarkably beautiful virtual images produced Imaging software, namely digital images which are suitable for high-definition television (HD TV). Virtual images which are more ‘realistic’ than real existence were studied using Jean Baudrillard’s simulation theory, and the appropriateness of this new way of producing television documentaries was also examined in this study.

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Digital Image, Documentary, Virtual Image, Simulation, Baudrillard, Hyper-reality