Kim Hoon-bae, head of media platform business of KT, speaks during a press conference at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels and Residences in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of KT

KT is strengthening its media business utilizing artificial intelligence technology capabilities, taking the content business as one of its core growth pillars, the company said Monday.

"The core strength in KT's media business is AI and we continue attempting to combine media and AI to take the lead in the media market," Kim Hoon-bae, head of media platform business of KT, said during a press conference in Seoul.

KT uses AI technology throughout the entire process of producing content and displaying it on TV and strengthens investments in the content business to spread domestic content in the global market.

KT has applied AI technology to its media businesses, such as using an AI model to predict the success of its original content, including dramas and entertainment shows; improving the quality of old videos; writing marketing phrases with generative AI; and checking the broadcast condition of its IPTV platform Genie TV.

IPTV, or Internet Protocol television, refers to streaming or live-television broadcast services using the Internet Protocol, as opposed to traditional terrestrial, cable or satellite networks.

"AI technology has already been applied everywhere in Genie TV. With AI curation technology, it analyzes viewing history and preferences to show different main screens for each user, and also recommends programs that meet with users' tastes," Kim said.

The company also introduced Magic Platform, a business-to-business media solution that enables customers to analyze videos and create content with AI.

The Magic Platform is also used in creating AI Object Books that extract keywords from e-books to create images and insert dubbed voices and background music with AI.

"The Magic Platform is a solution for creating AI videos, with added functionality to find specific sections, such as certain people or music," Kim said. "KT plans to provide B2B services utilizing KT's AI technology capabilities to media groups that lack AI infrastructure technology.

The company is also scheduled to launch its on-device AI-powered set-top box in the fourth quarter of this year.

KT said in 2023 that it would increase sales generated from its media business to 5 trillion won ($3.6 billion) by 2025, and the media platform business chief reaffirmed the plan is still achievable.

"KT is the No. 1 player in the paid broadcasting market with a 40 percent share. We believe we can boldly challenge our 2025 target in media content revenue across KT Group of 5 trillion won, which we set last year," he said, adding that KT is taking its media business as one of its three core businesses, along with telecommunications and AI.

"We will continue to lead the market by adding our unrivaled AI technology to the media value chain."