Chorokbaem Media Signs Exclusive Artist Contract with Lotte Homeshopping's Virtual Human 'Lucy'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Comprehensive content media company Chorokbaem Media has partnered with the virtual human ‘Lucy’. Chorokbaem Media announced on the 27th that it held an exclusive artist contract ceremony with ‘Lucy’, a virtual model independently developed by Lotte Home Shopping, and signed an exclusive contract.

Chorokbaem Media plans to actively challenge the expansion of a new business area called virtual human management, including artists belonging to its subsidiaries Hook Entertainment and Sky E&M.

Lucy, ambitiously created by Lotte Home Shopping, is active in various fields such as advertising model activities, non-fungible tokens (NFT), and show hosting. Developed by synthesizing a virtual face onto actual photographed images, Lucy features hyper-realistic modeling capable of expressing even the fine hairs on the skin, and is gradually expanding her activity areas by applying AI-based voice expression technology.

Lotte Home Shopping expects that Chorokbaem Media’s artist management know-how and expertise will enable systematic and professional activity support, and that Lucy’s activity areas will be expanded more actively in the future, including appearances in Chorokbaem-made content such as dramas and entertainment shows.

Chorokbaem Media maintains a strategy to expand diverse business directions based on securing the IP of its affiliated artists. As a mammoth entertainment company with about 400 artists, the company explains that it is rapidly expanding its business portfolio by building various revenue models such as NFT, metaverse, and media commerce based on the vast scale of affiliated artist IP.

Chorokbaem Media and Lotte Home Shopping are actively collaborating in various business areas, starting with cooperation in the media commerce field. They are expanding their business areas by jointly producing live commerce content such as the beauty entertainment show ‘Ransun Beauty’. Additionally, both companies plan to jointly invest in human resources for next-generation advanced technologies such as AI digital humans and elevate research and development to a high level to discover mid- to long-term growth engines.

A representative of Chorokbaem Media said, “We are very pleased to start this new business area of virtual human management with ‘Lucy’, who has diverse charm and limitless potential. We will wholeheartedly support the nurturing of affiliated artists and their activities including global expansion, and grow together.”

Meanwhile, last month Chorokbaem Media acquired a 50% stake in YG KPLUS, a fashion model management company. YG KPLUS has signed an exclusive contract with ‘Han Yua’, a virtual human created by Smilegate, showcasing diverse appearances in broadcasting, YouTube, performances, advertising, fashion, and beauty. Chorokbaem Media expects synergy creation in the virtual human management field through this contract.

Artists managed by Chorokbaem Media, which is responsible for Lucy’s management, include Yoon Yeojeong, Lee Seojin, Lee Seunggi, Park Minyoung, Lee Youngja, Kim Sook, Jang Yoonjung, Yoo Seyoon, Jang Dongmin, and Boom.