The Ministry of Science and ICT to Support Global Expansion of AI-Based Media Technologies like VFX and Digital Humans
The government is set to foster core application technologies in the media and content planning, production, and distribution sectors using artificial intelligence (AI), including virtual studios and digital humans. From next year, it plans to assist related startups and growth companies in entering the global market.
The Ministry of Science and ICT, together with the IITP, hosted the 4th Media Tech Open Lab event on the 15th at the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.
The Media Tech Open Lab is one of the public-private partnership initiatives by the government to support the growth of media and content companies. Unlike the previous Tech Open Lab events, this session focused on introducing high-potential technologies in the media market that involve AI and software R&D, and discussing future R&D directions.
The Ministry presented policy directions for innovation in media and content technology and discussed the expansion and development directions of digital advertising, a sector expected to grow through AI-based media and content. There was also time to gather opinions from academic and industry experts on related government policies.
First, the Ministry introduced plans to foster core application technologies in the media and content planning, production, and distribution sectors using AI. They announced that starting next year, they will support the global expansion of startups and growth companies by utilizing all resources, including R&D outcomes and demonstration projects.
During the technology presentation session, results of R&D collaborations between the government and companies (such as TwigFarm, Pulse9, and LOCUS) were shared, covering areas like visual effects (VFX), digital human advertisement initiatives, and development plans for the digital advertising market.
The final panel discussion session provided a platform for gathering opinions from various sectors on media and content policy initiatives being prepared by the government, as well as proposals for revitalizing the media industry. Panelists included Jun-woo Lee (IITP PM), Dong-hwan Noh (Director at Content WAVE), Seon-woo Lee (Producer at JTBC), Yun-taek Seong (Researcher at Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation), Seung-pyo Hong (Professor at Hankyong National University), and Jin-woo Jung (Director at Twelve Labs).