Viewers were amazed by a popular drama 'Kim Bu-jang' for its actors' dedicated performances without sparing their bodies and high production costs, but a shocking twist has been revealed: the key scenes were actually created 100% by artificial intelligence (AI), drawing attention to the current state of AI technology taking over dramas and entertainment shows, and changes in the broadcasting industry.

The SBS drama 'Kim Bu-jang,' which ended last month with a viewership rating of 23.1%, left a landmark case of AI utilization in broadcasting. A 3-minute action scene at the beginning of the second episode was produced 100% by AI for the first time in a domestic commercial drama, delivering a fresh shock to viewers. Director Lee Seung-young, who was in charge of directing, explained the background of AI adoption, saying, "AI became an alternative as the production faced a crisis of giving up on live-action filming due to budget limitations." Lead actor So Ji-seop also gave a positive outlook on AI technology, calling it "an inevitable trend that cannot be excluded in the future."

AI technology is now evolving beyond drama production to become a key element of various broadcasting content. KBS plans to actively utilize AI in large-scale battle scenes for the historical epic 'Munmoo,' scheduled to air in the second half of this year. In the single-episode drama 'Love: Track' aired last year, AI-rendered dogs were used instead of wolves, drawing attention.

AI's performance is also notable in entertainment programs. 'My AI Partner - Kian's Romance,' which airs for the first time on SBS on the 20th of this month, presents a bold concept where Ki-an 84 and Jang Do-yeon experiment with emotional exchanges with AI lovers. Disney original content 'Murder Club' also uses AI to recreate crime scenes. Key officials from major broadcasters, including KBS President Park Jang-beom, are also paying attention to the potential of AI technology and exploring future strategies.

[Photo=Yonhapnews]

In particular, EBS is drawing attention from the broadcasting industry with the most active moves in AI content development. EBS President Kim Yu-yeol revealed that the introduction of AI technology could reduce production costs to one-tenth of the previous level, drawing industry attention. EBS's use of AI in educational content such as 'AI Classics, 100 Books That Changed History,' 'AI Figures Korean History,' and 'AI Drama - Resurrection Class' is bringing positive effects not only in cost reduction but also in replacing difficult filming and improving content quality. In addition, AI technology is being utilized in various genres including educational programs such as 'Late Night Ghost Stories,' 'What Did the King Eat?,' 'Case Commander,' and 'Curious Story Y,' increasing efficiency.

However, concerns about indiscriminate adoption of AI technology are also being raised. Professor Lee Sung-min of the Department of Visual Media at Korea National Open University warned of "viewer alienation and reduced immersion" in AI reenactment scenes where characters' faces are fully exposed. The key is securing "perfection" that goes beyond simply applying technology to gain viewer empathy while not compromising content quality and accuracy. Professor Lee Sung-min emphasized that the success of AI utilization depends on "not whether AI was used or not, but how well it was utilized."

The broadcasting industry is accepting the adoption of AI technology as an inevitable new trend. Ultimately, experts' suggestions that AI technology should advance in a direction that does not hinder viewer immersion and improves content quality provide important implications for the direction broadcasting content should take in the AI era.