Beyond Influencers to Actors, Singers, and Show Hosts
Skilled in Using SNS and Sensitive to Trends... Advantageous for Communicating with MZ Generation
No Solution Yet for Ethical and Legal Issues... Reckless Expansion Should Be Avoided
[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] The ceremonial first pitch at the professional baseball game held on the 10th at Incheon SSG Landers Field was somewhat different. Instead of a person physically coming out to the mound to throw the first pitch, it was conducted via the electronic scoreboard. The star of the pitch on the screen was Shinsaegae's virtual human 'YT' (Young Twenty).
On the 10th, at Incheon SSG Landers Field, during the professional baseball game between SSG Landers and kt Wiz, Shinsegae's virtual human 'YT' threw the ceremonial first pitch on the scoreboard. / Photo by Yonhap News
Virtual humans are expanding their activity areas, signing contracts with agencies and appearing in dramas. Virtual humans naturally do not age and have no limitations on their fields of activity. They are also popular with advertisers because there is no worry about privacy controversies. However, some argue that virtual humans are still not natural because they cannot perfectly replace tasks done by real people.
◆ Expanding Activity Areas of 'Virtual Humans'
The origin of virtual humans in Korea dates back to 1998. The protagonist was the cyber singer 'Adam.' Adam debuted with the song "Love That Doesn't Exist in the World" and received significant attention, even being featured in the news. His first album sold 200,000 copies, showing great popular appeal. However, at that time, the agency could not bear the limited technology and costs running into hundreds of millions of won, and Adam was eventually forced to retire.
More than 20 years later, virtual humans have become countless worldwide and their fields of activity have diversified. YT is a virtual human created through a partnership between Shinsaegae and the graphics specialist company Pulse9. The name YT stands for 'Young Twenty,' representing Generation Z. Currently, YT is active as a promotional ambassador for Samsung Electronics, Maeil Dairies, Paris Baguette, and Seoul City's youth policy. In the second half of the year, YT is also scheduled to work as a project model for Shinsaegae Group's fashion brand W Concept.
In addition, various virtual humans are appearing not only as advertising models but also in live shopping, dramas, and entertainment programs. 'Yeoriji,' a 22-year-old female virtual influencer, is active as an honorary ambassador for the Korea Tourism Organization, promoting famous domestic landmarks. Jane, a member of the world's first virtual human girl group 'Eternity,' appeared as an actress in the web drama
Naver's virtual human 'Isol' debuted as a show host through the live commerce (online home shopping) platform Shopping Live. Last month, she was selected as the pre-promotion video model for Mercedes-Benz's 'The New EQB.' Rosy, who carries the nickname '22 years old who never ages,' was created in 2020 through Sidus Studio X. She started as an influencer but has also solidified her position as a singer, attending the Seoul Music Awards as a presenter. In February, she collaborated with an agency and composers to release her first single, 'Who Am I,' and officially launched the track.
◆ Still Insufficient to Replace Humans... The Distance of Being 'Virtual'
Virtual humans have relatively low production costs, so once the initial investment is made, they can generate high profits later. They can be flexibly active depending on their characteristics, such as acting, music, or influencer roles, according to business purposes. Above all, as technology advances, virtual humans are expected not to be short-lived like the cyber singer Adam in the past.
In particular, virtual humans communicate with fans through social media. This is why virtual humans can represent the MZ generation and the latest trends, targeting young audiences. This ease of increasing intimacy with the public and the lower risk factors compared to regular celebrities, such as exposure of private life, have led to high advertiser approval.
However, some consumers feel awkward about facial expressions and movements, causing rejection. Also, there are currently no ethical or legal regulations regarding virtual humans, so when problems arise, there is no established resolution manual. Experts point out that alongside technological development, considerations about these issues must also be addressed.
Kim Heon-sik, a popular culture critic, said about the expansion of virtual humans' activity areas, "It is a natural phenomenon that emerged as non-face-to-face content increased due to COVID-19." However, he added, "Virtual humans still seem to remain in the 20th century, such as in appearance-centered culture." He continued, "From a popular culture perspective, virtual humans aim for the 21st century, but analyzing their characters shows they are still in the 20th century. Indiscriminate expansion should be avoided."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
![Clutching a Stolen Dior Bag, Saying "I Hate Being Poor but Real"... The Grotesque Con of a "Human Knockoff" [Slate]](https://cwcontent.asiae.co.kr/asiaresize/183/2026021902243444107_1771435474.jpg)
