K-Arts & Korea Foundation Set up a Business Collaboration in Developing Immersive Digital Content

The K-Arts and the Korea Foundation agreed on enhancing cooperation in the development, usage, and international advancement of immersive digital culture content.

Both institutions concluded the MOU last year to seek a new direction of public diplomacy through the integration of art culture and cutting-edge technology. According to the MOU, the two institutions will seek close cooperation to introduce Korean culture to the world through the development and implementation of joint business in digital content production and uses.

For the first case of cooperation, during the Public Diplomacy Week from 18 Nov. 22 to 20 Nov. 22, they already showcased creative VR content, “SAMUL,” by the K-Arts AT Lab, and an integrative metaverse performance, “Scarecrow AP (Audience Participation),” which upgraded from “Scarecrow” for the first time in Korea.

The K-Arts AT Lab’s “Samul” reconstructs the gugak master Kim Deok-su’s performance into VR content using volumetric technology. It was premiered and praised at the Raindance Film Festival (UK) on 26 October 22 at the invitation.

Moreover, “Scarecrow AP” is an immersive XR content based on a metaverse environment. It received an invitation to or awards at the Sundance Film Festival (US), Raindance Film Festival (UK), and others. Forbes highly praised the content for enabling the most vivid digital experience among all other existing digital content. The Scarecrow AP is a version developed to enable the audience’s participation in Public Diplomacy Week.

President Kim Daejin of the K-Arts stated, “I’m very happy about how the K-Arts can contribute to Korea’s public diplomacy with outstanding cultural contents together with the Korea Foundation, the organization that advances in introducing Korea to the world through various means of public diplomacy. I hope that the cooperation of the K-Arts and the Korea Foundation can help Korea exercise cultural leadership.”