Korean AI Producers Detail High Cost of AI Filmmaking at Taipei Event
Studio Meta-K's Kim Kwang-jib and MBC C&I's Lee Sang-wook spoke at Taiwan Creative Content Fest, with Raphael set for Korean cinemas on Nov. 25.
Korean AI production pioneers outlined the cost of AI filmmaking at Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei, according to Variety, with MBC C&I's AI feature Raphael set to open in Korean cinemas on Nov. 25.
Kim Kwang-jib, founder and CEO of the Korean AI content studio Studio Meta-K, said token fees for a 100-minute AI film can exceed KRW500 million ($366,000) when using the most expensive commercial tools. He added that a tenfold rise in token costs could push that figure to KRW5 billion ($3.66 million).
Lee Sang-wook, head of the AI Content Lab at MBC C&I, a subsidiary of Korean broadcaster MBC, said the 139-minute Raphael took around a year and four months to make. A single shot on the film sometimes occupied around 10 artists for a full day, he said.
In-house work and earlier experiments
Kim said Studio Meta-K produced a Pizza Hut commercial in-house in about two weeks for around KRW30 million ($22,000). A Pizza Hut commercial that aired on TV last year took about eight months and roughly KRW2 billion ($1.4 million) to produce.
Kim founded Studio Meta-K in 2022 as a K-drama and film company with drama directors and writers. In 2024, MBC C&I's lab began experimenting with generative AI shorts; when the lab made those shorts in 2024, market reaction in Korea was very cold, according to Lee.
Quick answers
When does Raphael open in Korean cinemas?
Raphael is set to open in Korean cinemas on Nov. 25.
How long did Raphael take to make?
Lee Sang-wook said the 139-minute Raphael took around a year and four months to make.
Where did the speakers present?
Kim Kwang-jib and Lee Sang-wook spoke at Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei, according to Variety.