Kim Sung-soo Says AI Has Become Part of His Filmmaking Craft at Busan
Director Kim Sung-soo, whose film '12.12: The Day' was a Korean box office hit, said he once viewed AI as a threat to cinema but now incorporates it into his work. He spoke at a Kling AI session during the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market. Kim said his short 'Worm Train' changed his perspective after he abandoned it because AI could not render a key scene, then returned months later when the technology had improved.
Kim, director of the Korean hit 12.12: The Day, once feared AI might damage cinema. At a Kling AI session during Busan's Asian Contents & Film Market, he explained that making Worm Train changed his view. The eight-minute short was initially abandoned because the technology could not create a crucial shot.
He had shelved it when software failed to render an oversized bug striking a train filled with people. Months later, improvements made that scene possible. He now treats AI as part of his craft and says he will not return to his former filmmaking approach.
Kim's stance may encourage filmmakers, particularly those in effects-heavy or independent production, to view AI as a collaborator rather than solely a threat. Audiences could see more ambitious imagined visuals reach the screen. At the same time, crews and VFX professionals may face changing expectations around skills and roles. Festivals and markets could host more AI-focused discussions, gradually normalizing such tools. How far this spreads may depend on access, ethical safeguards, and whether creative standards keep pace.