South Korea first AI film Run to the West opened in theaters Wednesday, marking a pioneering step in Korean cinema. Directed by Kang Yun-sung, acclaimed filmmaker behind Disney+’s Big Bet and Low Life, the 60-minute fantasy project aggressively uses AI rendering. The story follows people stuck in limbo after near-death experiences, hounded by unearthly figures deciding their fate .
South Korea first AI film stars marquee names Byun Yo-han, Bang Hyo-rin, and Yang Se-jong racing through central Seoul while pursued by AI-generated grim reapers. The creatures are fashioned as animals and the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism, veering from uncanny realism to awkwardly cartoonish. The movie includes enough explosions, chases and fireballs to maintain viewer engagement.
South Korea first AI film began as a proposed 5-10 minute short before evolving into a feature-length project in collaboration with KT . Kang revised a 25-year-old script called Mobius into this groundbreaking production . The technology continued improving dramatically throughout filming as new techniques emerged daily.
South Korea first AI film features a human character rendered entirely through artificial intelligence. Star Byun Yo-han dismissed fears about actor replacement, noting AI cannot exist without the imagination of directors, actors and staff . The production demonstrates AI’s supportive role in modern filmmaking innovation.
