KBS Documentary 'Sacred Relics' Utilizes AI to Enhance Storytelling

The KBS documentary series 'Sacred Relics', narrated by actress Kim Hee-ae, has embraced AI technology to enhance its production quality. This four-part series explores the journeys of individuals seeking solace and hope through religion, integrating AI in its post-production to elevate its storytelling.

'Sacred Relics' captures the stories of people carrying their burdens and finding comfort and hope through faith, with Kim Hee-ae lending her voice as the narrator. While it maintains a traditional documentary format, the production process has been significantly enhanced by cutting-edge technology. Choi Dong-eun, the technical supervisor from KBS's post-production team, shared insights with Hankyung Ten Asia about the use of AI as a production aid and the key considerations during this process.

Choi emphasized the documentary's core as 'the authenticity of the field'. He stated, "The essence of a documentary lies in capturing the truth and warmth that can only be found on location," adding, "Therefore, 'Sacred Relics' prioritized on-site filming whenever possible." He further explained, "The value of KBS's license fee lies in delivering factual on-site situations. In an era saturated with AI visuals, viewers expect more genuine field experiences from public broadcasting documentaries."

However, there were limitations to relying solely on on-site filming for all scenes. Choi noted, "AI was used selectively to explain historical materials or symbolic contexts that were challenging to capture on location," clarifying that "AI is not a replacement for fieldwork but a complementary tool."

The criteria for AI usage in 'Sacred Relics' were clear. Choi stated, "Since 'Sacred Relics' focuses on human introspection and recovery narratives, it was crucial that technology did not overshadow the visuals." He emphasized, "AI was limited to a supporting role in production, applied selectively where necessary." He added, "By strictly managing the scope and intensity of AI application, we maintained the program's message and emotional trajectory, achieving a balance between technology and storytelling."

The AI teaser for 'Sacred Relics' was also crafted with a distinctive strategy. Choi explained, "It was designed as a prologue to convey the main program's emotion and symbolism, not as a showcase of technology." He added, "Key visuals were distilled and visualized with AI, maintaining the same tone and manner as the main program." He emphasized, "The focus was on intuitively conveying the program's direction and emotional line in a short time, using AI as a tool to seamlessly transition into the main content rather than as a standalone spectacle."

The title 'Sacred Relics' carries symbolic meaning as well. Choi explained, "In the title calligraphy, the 'ㅅ' in '성' symbolizes praying hands, and the 'ㅁ' in '물' contains a candle symbol, representing earnestness and hope." He added, "The intention was for the program's message to be naturally conveyed through the title alone."

A significant focus in post-production was color correction. 'Sacred Relics' spans various countries, including Ethiopia, Italy, Turkey, and Korea. Choi explained, "Due to the different atmospheres and emotions of each country, we first established a color concept for each episode with colorist Hong Ji-ye, then proceeded with color correction." He recalled, "The goal was not just to beautify the visuals but to enhance the portrayal of characters' emotions by adjusting color, contrast, and tone to maintain the overall flow's immersion."

In conclusion, Choi stated, "For a work to be complete, various aspects of post-production, including filming, editing, VFX, AI, audio, subtitles, and comprehensive editing, must be organically integrated." He expressed hope that viewers would stay engaged with the stories and emotions captured in 'Sacred Relics'.

Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia yoon@tenasia.co.kr