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The Korean Film Council (KOFIC; Chairman Han Sang-jun) signed a memorandum of understanding on March 24 with MBC C&I (President Do In-tae), the Busan Film Commission (BFC; Steering Committee Chairman Kang Sung-gyu), and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN; Executive Director Shin Chul) to advance AI talent development across the film and media industry. The signing ceremony took place at the Busan Film Commission.

The agreement was prompted by the need to respond to rapidly shifting conditions in the film and media sector and to expand AI-driven content talent development and industry collaboration. Recognizing in particular the urgency of cultivating AI creative professionals at the regional level, the four institutions — each with existing AI education initiatives — will establish a coordinated framework for joint training and research and development. Under the MOU, the partners have committed to cooperation across three areas: developing AI film and media creative talent and building the necessary infrastructure at the regional level; screening and promoting AI film and media content; and conducting R&D to advance AI-generated film and media content.

KOFIC has been preparing the ground for some time. Through the Korean Academy of Film Arts' (KAFA) Advanced Film Production Education Program, the Council has designed and delivered AI-focused filmmaking education for industry professionals, tracking the technology as it has evolved on set. Offerings have expanded steadily — from foundational generative AI tool training to scenario development, character creation, post-production workflows, and short film production practicums — keeping pace with changes in the production process. Among the five AI short films produced through the program, Sigumun received the Grand Prize in the Film Category at the inaugural Seoul International AI Film Festa in 2025 and has since earned recognition at multiple domestic and international AI film festivals.

Alongside the MOU, KOFIC has established a dedicated internal AI Film Technology Task Force to provide a more systematic institutional basis for AI-related policy and programming. The Task Force will take on an integrated mandate covering the introduction and diffusion of emerging production technologies, the development of film technology standards, and support for AI-assisted filmmaking. Plans are also underway to pursue next-generation production infrastructure initiatives, including the construction of a virtual studio, as part of a broader effort to strengthen the Korean film industry's technological competitiveness.

Chairman Han Sang-jun remarked: "AI technology is bringing sweeping change to filmmaking methods and to the structure of the industry as a whole. The Council has steadily built up its foundations in AI film production education and technology, and with this agreement and the establishment of the dedicated AI Film Technology Task Force, we will continue to provide sustained support so that the Korean film industry can respond proactively to the new technological environment."

Going forward, KOFIC intends to accelerate the development of an integrated AI film ecosystem — one that connects education and production support, technology research and talent development, and industry collaboration in a continuous chain. A particular priority will be ensuring that creative professionals trained through the education programs can make the transition to actual production work and industry practice; to that end, the Council and its partner institutions plan to pursue a range of follow-on initiatives, including screening support and joint research.