Turning on-the-ground needs into AI R&D: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launches Culture Technology Alliance

[Financial News] A public-private body has been launched to identify artificial intelligence (AI) technologies needed in cultural fields such as game and video production and live performances, and to reflect them in government R&D policy. Technology needs identified by businesses, creators and researchers will inform medium- and long-term investment strategies and the planning of new R&D projects for 2028.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 15th, the ministry and the Korea Culture Technology Planning and Evaluation Agency, an affiliate of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), held the launch ceremony for the first Culture Technology Alliance at 2 p.m. that day at Eliena Hotel in Seoul’s Gangnam District. Minister Choi Hwi-young also attended and encouraged the participating members.
A total of 214 people will take part in the alliance, including representatives of large, medium-sized and small businesses, individual creators, and experts from academia and research institutions. From this month through December, it will operate four working groups: interactive game content; video and media content; music and performance content; and original story content.
The alliance will gather input from all members and establish a separate strategic planning group to lead in-depth discussions. It will assess the market potential, urgency and technical feasibility of the identified technology needs and set priorities. Rather than simply collecting requests from individual companies and institutions, the approach brings together industry, creators and the research community to discuss real-world challenges and define them as R&D needs.
The game working group will address improving development efficiency and enhancing interaction with users. Nexon Korea, Smilegate, Myongji University and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute are among its participants.
The video and media working group will discuss technologies to improve video production using AI, visual expression and the viewing experience. CJ ENM, CJ 4DPLEX, Giantstep and the Art Center Nabi Museum are among the participants.
The music and performance working group will explore support for creation, sound production and listening, as well as ways to enhance the sense of presence at live performances. Kakao Entertainment Corp., SBS and Gaudio Lab are among its participants.
The story source working group will work with Jakga Company, Muhayu and Korea University, among others, to support story development and find technologies for expanding original content across multiple media.
The new cultural technology R&D support plan announced early this year by MCST and KOCCA covered 35 projects, with a total budget of 38.7 billion won. It included planning and creation of intellectual property (IP) for cultural content, K-content production and technology development for cultural services.
Minister Choi said, "We will incorporate projects identified jointly by businesses, creators and researchers into R&D policy to solve problems in the field, leading to new content and business opportunities."


[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter