"North Korea Special Mission, Entirely AI-Produced"... So Ji-sub's "Department Head Kim" Action Was Not Real

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'Department Head Kim' is making headlines with its bold AI production.

According to Mophius Studio, a company specializing in AI-based video technology research and content creation, on the 9th, an approximately three-minute sequence depicting the past of the protagonist, Department Head Kim (played by So Ji-sub), a former special forces agent in SBS's Friday-Saturday drama "Department Head Kim" (script by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-young), was produced entirely using AI. This case marks the first time in Korean drama history that such an approach has been taken.

'In "Department Head Kim," the AI video appears in a sequence where the protagonist, Department Head Kim, a North Korean agent who was recruited, is sent on a special mission behind enemy lines. The sequence aired across episodes 1 and 2. Unlike short cuts measured in seconds, an extended three-minute sequence was produced entirely with AI.

This sequence showcases various scenes set against the backdrop of North Korea: So Ji-sub blowing up a building; a car chase through snow-covered roads and tunnels; a vehicle overturning; a scene where the car crashes through a guardrail into a river, submerging underwater; and footage of the vehicle being recovered. Gunfight scenes between characters, including So Ji-sub, and powerful action sequences are also prominent. The production freely employs close-up shots that capture facial expressions, completely disregarding concerns about character consistency—a common issue often cited as a weakness of AI-generated video.

Shooting these scenes with live-action would require significant production costs, including art department expenses, outdoor location fees, special effects for explosions, and VFX work involving CG. To ensure the completion of Department Head Kim's character, the "Department Head Kim" production team made a bold decision to produce these essential scenes entirely using AI.

'Department Head Kim's' AI video production was handled by Mophius Studio. Established by Korean film and drama VFX experts, Mophius Studio launched its self-developed AI service, "Achron," in February this year and is currently operating it.

Achron is an AI content creation platform that provides an integrated pipeline where all tasks, from prompt input to video completion, are performed on a single canvas based on the Node system. Users can select and utilize their desired model from over 150 commercially available AI models, including chatbots for prompt generation, image generation models, video generation models, and sound models. A key feature is its video-specific utilities developed with the know-how of VFX professionals.

'Department Head Kim's' AI video was also created 100% using Achron. Ryu Jae-hwan, Deputy CEO of Mophius Studio and a VFX supervisor who won both the Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards for works such as "1947 Boston," "Swing Kids," "Flu," and "Chuncheon City Murder Case," personally oversaw the AI video production. He managed every stage of the process—from planning to image generation, video production, and editing—entirely within Achron's workflow.

Deputy CEO Ryu Jae-hwan stated, "The most significant aspect of this project is that we didn't just replace a few seconds of VFX cuts with AI; instead, we produced the entire sequence necessary to enhance the story's completeness using AI." He added, "'Department Head Kim' had a clear goal from the start regarding how to use AI video, which allowed us to produce high-quality AI content. This case properly demonstrates that AI can serve as both a new creative tool and an outstanding partner for creators with strong planning and storytelling."

Mophius Studio, which operates the Achron service, also noted, "It is highly significant that 'Department Head Kim's' AI video was completed solely using Achron's workflow, planned by domestic video experts and developed with Korean technology. As we aim to create a creative platform capable of producing results suitable for commercial use, we will continue to enhance Achron by incorporating the experience gained from producing 'Department Head Kim's' AI video."

Meanwhile, "Department Head Kim" recorded a viewership rating of 21.6% in its fourth episode aired on the 4th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original