A viral video recently emerged, shocking the media industry with its realistic depiction of a fight between Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, created solely through the AI tool 'Sidance 2.0' from a mere two-line prompt. The 15-second clip not only perfectly captured the actors' prime physical appearances but also their striking punches and ragged breaths, illustrating a significant technological advancement that suggests the potential for AI to almost completely replace an actor's unique presence. This has led to dire predictions in the U.S. film industry about what they describe as 'the end of traditional production methods.'

In response to the challenges posed by such technologies, South Korea has implemented the 'AI Basic Law' as of January, becoming the first country to legally establish a labeling system for AI-generated works. This law requires that videos and images produced by AI carry a visible indicator, and anyone violating this can face fines of up to 30 million won. While this measure aims to protect citizens and industries from deepfake manipulation and copyright violations, media scholars argue that it merely highlights a larger systemic issue, as labeling does not inherently resolve the underlying problems related to copyright infringement associated with virtual content.

Moreover, the focus should shift from legislative solutions to the industrial implications of AI advancements. The crisis in the media landscape is already evidenced by significant drops in film production; last year, South Korean movie production fell by over 30% compared to previous years, with many commercial films failing to progress beyond the planning stage. This decline cannot solely be attributed to economic downturns but is largely driven by AI services encroaching upon markets like advertising and short films, as well as the uncertainties faced by investors aiming to navigate this transitional phase in technology. Given the unprecedented speed of these changes globally, the government alone cannot be blamed; however, there is a pressing need to cultivate the cultural industry as a vital national economic sector with a strategic approach for the future.