K-Pop Meets Shark Week

Rei Ami Faces 16 Reef Sharks Underwater

Ami's dive was no small feat. She sat on the ocean floor near the Korean Peninsula while 16 reef sharks swarmed in a feeding frenzy around her. Reef sharks are known for fast, aggressive group feeding behavior. Watching that up close — from below — put Ami in the middle of the action in a way few celebrities have attempted, according to NBC New York.

Jeong, best known for his roles in "The Hangover" and "Community," appeared alongside Ami in "K-Pop Shark Heroes." He was happy to cheer her on — from the boat. His decision to stay out of the water added a comedic contrast to Ami's fearless underwater adventure, NBC Philadelphia noted.

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Giant Mako and Great Whites Headline This Year's Science

One of the week's biggest hunts focuses on a 15-foot mako shark spotted off the coast of Southern California. That would make it the largest mako ever recorded. Researchers are trying to find and document the animal, NBC San Diego reported. Mako sharks are already among the fastest fish in the ocean, and a specimen that size would be a rare scientific find.

The week also looks at great white sharks moving north along the East Coast. Scientists want to understand why their range is expanding and what it means for swimmers and coastal communities. A separate episode examines how thresher sharks use their long tails to stun and kill prey — a hunting method that is still not fully understood, according to NBC Miami.

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Shark Week Blends Pop Culture With Real Ocean Science

Pairing K-pop stars and comedians with shark research is part of Discovery's strategy to draw in new viewers. The 20 new shows span a wide range of topics — from feeding frenzies to migration patterns to record-breaking specimens. Each episode runs one hour, according to NBC Chicago.

The celebrity angle does not water down the science. Ami's dive, for example, gives viewers a ground-level look at reef shark behavior that is hard to capture any other way. Discovery has used this approach before, but the K-pop connection gives this year's lineup a global reach that past seasons may have lacked, NBC Connecticut reported.

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Where and When to Watch Shark Week

Shark Week airs on the Discovery Channel. All 20 new episodes are available for viewers to follow throughout the week. Fans of Ami can catch her in "K-Pop Shark Heroes," while those interested in the mako hunt or the great white migration can tune in to those dedicated episodes, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.

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