A scene from the movie "It's Me, Moon-hee," featuring AI-generated actor Na Moon-hee firing a gun. Courtesy of Content Park Entertainment

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) film has gained attention not only for its creative premise but also for its revolutionary production process. Veteran actress Na Moon-hee, 84, stars in the film — but not in person.

Instead, AI technology transforms her into a 20-year-old warrior, piloting fighter jets and riding motorcycles, a stark departure from her typically soft-spoken demeanor.

The AI film "It's Me, Moon-hee," released late last year, is part of a 17-minute anthology that showcases the potential of AI in filmmaking. It is believed to be the first project in the world to recreate a real actor using AI rather than employing virtual characters.

Every aspect of the production, including visuals, dialogue and music, was created entirely by AI, without live filming or recording.

The anthology compiles five short films created by different directors — "Cookie Game," "Na Moon-hee Universe," "Present Me, Moon-hee," "Do You Really Know Her" and "Santa Moon-hee." Each film averages around three minutes, demonstrating the efficiency and speed of AI-driven production.

A scene from "Forbidden Fairy Tale," released on Jan. 8. Courtesy of Mediacan

AI films produced in record time

The short "Nam Moon-hee Universe," directed by Yu Ji-cheon, was completed in just seven days. Yu, who works in construction, taught himself AI filmmaking during his spare time.

"The challenge was to recreate Na Moon-hee as realistically as possible," Yu said, describing the iterative process of generating images with numerous commands to achieve an accurate likeness.

Jeong Eun-wook, the director of "Do You Really Know Her," also completed his film in a week. "I've always wanted to make live-action films but never had the chance," he said.

While AI lacks the precision of traditional live-action techniques, Jeong noted that it allows creators to produce desired images within seconds, eliminating the need for physical sets or locations.

He also stressed the cost advantages of AI filmmaking, as it enables the depiction of diverse settings, such as the U.S., Mexico and Korea, without the financial burden of on-location shooting.

At the inaugural Busan International AI Film Festival last month, a survey revealed that 31.8 percent of creators took eight to 15 days to complete an AI film, with 28 percent finishing within four to seven days, demonstrating the technology's efficiency compared to traditional filmmaking.

Expanding AI applications in cinema

AI technology is gradually making its way into films. The comedy "Forbidden Fairy Tale," released on Jan. 8, used AI to depict younger versions of the actors and to create a scene involving hot springs erupting from rocks.

Similarly, the horror film "The Unrighteous," released last month, used AI for 20 to 30 percent of its postproduction work, reducing production costs by about 30 percent.

The AI film industry is also growing rapidly. In October, the Korea AI International Film Festival received over 2,000 submissions. Major domestic film festivals, such as the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, have introduced AI competition categories, while the Busan International Film Festival launched an AI film market.

The Jeonju International Film Festival also hosted AI-focused discussions, reflecting the industry's recognition of this emerging trend.

Debates over AI-generated creativity and copyright

The rise of AI filmmaking has sparked debates about its artistic value and legal standing. Under current copyright law in Korea, only creations expressing human thought or emotion are eligible for copyright protection, meaning fully AI-generated works are not recognized.

However, collaborative efforts between humans and AI can be registered as "edited works," which qualify for partial copyright.

Experts argue that discussions about the legal and ethical implications of AI-generated works are urgent.

Park Eun-ji, director of the AI Culture and Management Research Institute at Seoul Venture University, said, "AI's role in content creation is inevitable due to its cost-saving benefits. It is crucial to define AI-generated works and address their copyright implications."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.