The past sequence of So Jisub in 'Manager Kim,' which has continued its box office momentum by surpassing a 21% viewership rating in just four episodes, was entirely produced by AI, drawing attention.
On the 9th, AI video content specialist Morpheus Studio said that an approximately three-minute sequence showing the past of the protagonist Manager Kim (So Jisub), a former special agent in 'Manager Kim,' was wholly produced by AI. They said this is the first time 'Manager Kim' has done so in the history of Korean drama.
The AI footage was broadcast across episodes 1 and 2 of 'Manager Kim.' A long sequence of about three minutes was entirely produced by AI, and the footage depicts the protagonist So Jisub, a recruited operative from North Korea, being sent north and carrying out a special mission.
Accordingly, everything from So Jisub blowing up a building set in North Korea, to a car chase on snow-covered roads and inside a tunnel, scenes of cars overturning, an underwater scene in which a car breaks through a railing and plunges into a river, and even the raising of the vehicle were all produced by AI.
Furthermore, it drew attention by delivering close-up shots without any constraints in maintaining character consistency. If such scenes were shot practically, considerable production costs would be required for set design, outdoor location fees, special effects such as explosions, and VFX work including CG. The 'Manager Kim' production team had to include those scenes to complete the main character and can be seen as taking the bold step of producing them entirely with AI.
Regarding the achievement shown by 'Manager Kim,' Morpheus Studio vice president Ryu Jae-hwan emphasized, "The most important point of this work is that we worked on entire sequences necessary to enhance the completeness of the story with AI, not just replacing a few seconds of VFX cut work with AI."
Ryu also said, "'Manager Kim' had a clear goal from the start about how to use AI footage, so it was possible to produce high-quality AI video work. This is a case that properly proves AI can be a new creative tool and an excellent partner for creators with good planning and stories."
Meanwhile, the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Manager Kim' airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
[Photo] Morpheus Studio
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