Independence Activists' Images and Voices Revived Through AI Technology
MOU with Independence Hall Extended for Another Year
Expansion of Smart Shelters at the Independence Hall Outdoor Spaces
SK Telecom announced on the 14th that, in collaboration with the Independence Hall of Korea, it will release a special video featuring the restored images and voices of independence activists using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day.
The two institutions have agreed to extend their mutual cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU), which has been in place since 2020, for another year, and to jointly develop exhibition content for independence-related cultural heritage using ICT technology.
SK Telecom announced on the 14th that it will release a special video featuring vivid images and voices of independence activists restored using AI technology to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day in collaboration with the Independence Hall of Korea. Photo by SK Telecom
To begin with, SK Telecom and the Independence Hall of Korea will unveil the video "The Joy of Liberation, Return to the Homeland after 27 Years" on the 14th. This content was produced based on the "Commemorative Signature Cloth for the Return of Key Figures of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea," which is housed at the Independence Hall. Among the independence activists who left inscriptions on the cloth, the voices and images of five recipients of the Order of Merit for National Foundation-Kim Gu, Kim Kyu-sik, Shin Ik-hee, Lee Si-young, and Cho So-ang-were restored using SK Telecom's AI technology.
SK Telecom has been restoring materials held by the Independence Hall and developing content using its AI media enhancement and restoration solution, "SUPERNOVA." This time, generative AI technology was used to add color to black-and-white photos of independence activists. In addition, the AI deep learning-based "Soundistill" technology for audio separation and generation was used to recreate the actual voices of the independence activists.
With the extension of the MOU, the two institutions will increase the number of "Smart Shelters," interactive rest areas, and expand content to enhance visitor convenience. In addition to the existing shelters near the House of the People and the Tower of the People, new Smart Shelters will be installed this year at the Memorial Plaza and the Hill of Unification Wishes, bringing the total to four. Each shelter is equipped with amenities such as heating and cooling, and also offers historical content experiences utilizing ICT technology.
Furthermore, the augmented reality (AR) content "Sky Road of Liberation," linked to the C-47 transport aircraft outdoor exhibit at the Independence Hall, is scheduled to be released within the year. Visitors will be able to use AR telescopes to access stories about the return of key figures of the Provisional Government, as well as information about major outdoor locations such as Baekryeon Pond and the Taegukgi Plaza.
The adoption of extended reality (XR) experience shuttles will also be expanded. Following the pilot operation in the first half of this year, the "Independence Burungi" has begun regular service, and a second vehicle, "Daehan Burungi," will be introduced in the second half. Inside the experience shuttles, AR glasses and transparent OLED displays are installed to provide immersive content that connects the actual outdoor environment with the exhibits.
Kim Kyungduk, Head of SK Telecom's Enterprise Business Division, stated, "On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, we will strive not only to uphold the independence and sovereignty of our nation, but also to maintain AI sovereignty through SK Telecom's unique technological leadership in the global AI sector."
The Independence Hall of Korea commented, "We hope that, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, more visitors will come to the hall and have a meaningful time experiencing a variety of outdoor content and vividly feeling the spirit of independence. We will continue to develop historical experience content incorporating new technologies and do our utmost to widely promote the value of the independence movement."
SK Telecom announced on the 14th that it will release a special video restored with artificial intelligence (AI) technology featuring the images and voices of independence activists in collaboration with the Independence Hall of Korea to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. Interior view of the XR experience shuttle. Provided by SK Telecom
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