Domestic Technology and Workforce Overshadowed by Global OTT
Minister Lee Jong-ho: "Urgent AI and Digital Transformation Needed"
Plans to Integrate AI in Scriptwriting, Video Editing, and Translation
The government has expressed its intention to actively utilize generative artificial intelligence (AI) to secure global competitiveness in the media and content industry.
On the 12th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the 16th Information and Communication Strategy Committee meeting at Grand Central in Jung-gu, Seoul, and announced the "Future Media Plan Based on AI and Digital."
The Ministry of Science and ICT stated its policy to integrate AI throughout the entire process of content planning, production, marketing, and distribution, and to develop technologies for digital transformation.
Global companies such as Netflix are already securing competitiveness by analyzing user data through AI and recommending personalized content. Additionally, there is a trend to streamline production and reduce costs and time through generative AI and digital humans.
Domestically, although there is content with solid stories, the level of technology such as AI integration and digital transformation is relatively low compared to global companies, and there is an absolute shortage of personnel.
Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT emphasized, "The next few years are a golden time for Korea," adding, "AI and digital transformation are urgent so that we can compete with global OTT platforms through innovation."
Accordingly, there are plans to enable media and content creation through generative AI and to expand the establishment of ultra-realistic virtual production studios.
Specifically, by utilizing generative AI, from 2025, the ministry will implement stories, prompts, rough cuts, and teaser videos, and from next year, develop technology to automatically generate special effects for live-action footage.
In addition, the ministry plans to support content production using various forms of digital humans such as virtual humans and AI cast members (5 to 10 projects next year). AI will also be integrated into translation, subtitles, and dubbing, which are essential for overseas market entry, to save time and costs.
However, it remains to be seen what impact these plans will have on the domestic media and content market in the future. In the United States, AI technology has changed the industry landscape, leading Hollywood writers and actors to hold street protests and strikes recently.
Since standards and regulations on AI ethics have not yet been established, there is a possibility that Korea may also face opposition from related workers similar to the U.S.
Recognizing this, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced plans to train more than 1,500 AI-digital media talents over three years.
They will establish a new "Media DX Academy" that provides nine months of education for youth in cooperation with the media, content, and AI industries, while offering existing employees opportunities to adapt to the changing environment through DX specialized training courses.
Along with this, the ministry will promote projects supporting related businesses within a consortium of media, content, and technology-specialized companies to encourage the production of globally oriented content using AI.
Minister Lee stated, "We will take care of related policies so that domestic media and content companies can establish a foundation to grow to a global level and so that digital technology can have a tangible effect on improving the quality of life for citizens and revitalizing the economy."
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