Squid Game, BTS, Parasite, and K-pop have transformed South Korea into a cultural export powerhouse. Now, K-culture is preparing for another leap, driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI is changing not just the tools for content creation but also the planning, production, distribution, and consumption processes.
The second leap of K-culture will begin with 'K-Content 2.0,' where creators and AI collaborate. Leading this change is Kim Kwang-jip, CEO of Studio Metak.
K-culture must evolve again.
Over the past two decades, K-culture has risen from the periphery of the global cultural industry to its center. K-pop has reshaped the global music market, while Korean dramas have become key content on global platforms. Webtoons have become source intellectual property (IP) for films and dramas, and both games and entertainment have gained recognition in the global market.
South Korea is no longer just a country that imports culture; it has become one that exports it and is changing global cultural consumption patterns.
However, K-culture is now facing a new inflection point. Competition in the global market is intensifying, and production costs are rising rapidly. Viewers demand higher quality and more diverse content. The traditional production methods are becoming insufficient to maintain global competitiveness, and this is where generative AI comes into play.
AI is rewriting the economics of the content industry.
Many people understand generative AI as a technology for creating images and videos, but its significance in the content industry is much broader. AI is not just speeding up production; it is changing the very structure of the industry.
In the past, producing a film required numerous staff, long production periods, and substantial costs. Every process, from planning and scriptwriting to filming, post-production, and special effects, was carried out sequentially.
Now, AI can assist in expanding ideas and creating storyboards during the planning phase, implementing various scenes during production, and automating editing, subtitles, sound, and translation in post-production.
With the entire production process connected through an AI-based pipeline, time and costs are reduced, allowing creators to focus more on new ideas.
Kim Kwang-jip redefines this trend as 'AI production.' He envisions generative AI not merely as a tool for video creation but as a production platform that connects the entire content creation process from planning to distribution.
By delegating repetitive tasks to AI, creators can invest more time in areas that require human touch, such as direction, storytelling, and emotional expression.
AI does not replace creators.
A common misconception about generative AI is that it will replace creators. However, those actively using AI in the field have a different perspective. Kim Kwang-jip defines AI not as a technology that replaces creators but as a tool that maximizes their productivity.
The advent of the camera did not eliminate painters, nor did the proliferation of digital editing tools make filmmakers obsolete. New technologies have historically helped existing creators realize greater imagination rather than replace them.
AI is no different. While AI can generate videos and images, it cannot decide what story to tell or replicate human emotions and philosophy. The essence of content still comes from human imagination, experience, and empathy. Ultimately, the competitiveness in the AI era will depend on how creatively people can utilize AI.
Proven AI in broadcasting and production.
Kim Kwang-jip stands out because he is not just a technician developing AI in a lab; he is a content creator actively using AI in broadcasting, film, and advertising production.
His company, Studio Metak, has been conducting various commercial projects using generative AI, including dramas, broadcasts, advertisements, virtual humans, XR content, and AI animation, demonstrating the potential of AI production methods.
This goes beyond merely showcasing technology; it integrates AI into actual commercial content production processes.
The accumulated know-how is not confined to one company but can spread across broadcasters, production companies, the advertising industry, and even education and public content sectors.
AI can be utilized regardless of production scale, allowing large production companies to enhance productivity, small producers to reduce costs, and individual creators to achieve production capabilities previously thought impossible.
AI is reshaping the competitive landscape of the content industry while also broadening the creative ecosystem.
K-culture evolves into 'global native content.'
The first success of K-culture was exporting content made in Korea to the world. In the AI era, this approach is likely to change significantly.
Generative AI opens up possibilities for rapidly transforming a single piece of content to suit various languages and cultures through advancements in translation, dubbing, voice synthesis, and subtitle generation.
This transition signifies a shift from merely introducing Korean content abroad to planning and producing 'global native content' from the outset, with the global market in mind.
South Korea already possesses world-class ICT infrastructure and content production capabilities. With the addition of generative AI, K-culture can secure both production efficiency and global scalability.
Kim Kwang-jip views AI not merely as a cost-cutting technology but as a growth engine that connects Korean content to the world more quickly and broadly.
Designing a content ecosystem beyond technology.
Kim Kwang-jip's interests extend beyond video production. While creativity is central to the content industry, securing production funds and attracting investment remain significant challenges. No matter how brilliant an idea may be, without funding, a project cannot come to fruition.
Kim believes that in the AI era, not only production technology but also investment and distribution methods must be innovated. Building an ecosystem where various participants grow together around content IP is essential for K-culture to develop into a sustainable industry.
These efforts are still ongoing, but they demonstrate that AI can change not just production but the entire industrial structure.
The next decade for K-culture.
If streaming platforms have changed distribution methods, generative AI is changing production methods. In the future, how effectively AI is integrated into the creative process will likely determine the competitiveness of content companies.
However, as technology becomes increasingly standardized, human creativity and cultural sensitivity will become even more critical competitive advantages. In the AI era, the greatest asset will ultimately be people, and the success of content will depend on the stories created rather than the level of AI utilization.
Kim Kwang-jip's challenge extends beyond the growth of a single company. He is experimenting with new production grammar by applying AI technology in production settings and seeking ways to enhance industry productivity and scalability.
If K-culture's first success stemmed from the passion of creators, the second success is likely to emerge from a new ecosystem created by the collaboration of creators and AI.
For South Korea to truly become a powerhouse in AI, it must go beyond merely producing AI models to creating new cultures and industries through AI. Kim Kwang-jip's vision for the future embodies this challenge.
: Kim Kwang-jip, CEO of Studio Metak: A leader in the AI-driven content industry, applying generative AI in broadcasting, film, and advertising.
He has built an 'AI production' model that connects the entire content creation process through various commercial projects, including AI video production, XR content, virtual humans, and AI animation.
Studio Metak is proving the practical applicability of generative AI in the broadcasting and media industry, presenting a new production paradigm that bridges technology and content.
Kim is recognized as an AI leader driving the global expansion of K-culture and innovation in the content industry by utilizing AI as a tool to enhance creators' competitiveness.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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