A bold experiment that blurs the boundary between the real and the unreal
Director Kang Yoon-sung, known for Long Live the King: Mokpo Hero (2019), has returned to the big screen after six years — this time with Korea's first feature-length film created using AI technology.
At the press screening for The Middle Realm held on October 13 at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall, Kang unveiled the ambitious project alongside cast members Byun Yo-han, Kim Kang-woo, Bang Hyo-rin, and Im Hyung-jun.
Life and death collide in modern Seoul
The film is a chase-action blockbuster set in Seoul, where grim reapers clash with souls trapped between life and death in a metaphysical space called the "Middle Realm."
In Buddhist cosmology, the Middle Realm represents the space where souls linger before reincarnation. The film reimagines this mythological concept within an urban landscape, depicting chaos and confrontation on the threshold between existence and oblivion.
The birth of Korea's first AI cinematic universe
Kang was first inspired while filming Fine: The Country Bumpkins, when he was approached by a tech company interested in producing an AI short film. "I already had a script written years ago," Kang shared. "I realized this story deserved a larger canvas — that's how The Middle Realm began."
He revealed that the production integrated state-of-the-art generative AI, explaining, "Until March, the technology still felt incomplete, but then it advanced at lightning speed. This film was completed using the latest AI tools available."
AI meets practical filmmaking
The film's second half fully embraces AI technology, introducing 18 unique AI-generated creatures — including the Twelve Zodiac Beasts, the Four Heavenly Kings, Haetae, and King Yeomra.
The highlight sequence — a massive explosion at Gwanghwamun Square — merges live-action footage with AI-generated imagery to create a hyperreal yet uncanny world.
However, Kang acknowledged some imperfections: "AI still struggles with color correction and fine detail. Certain temple scenes, especially under the lanterns at Jogyesa, looked slightly unnatural."
Despite the challenges, the time and cost efficiency were undeniable. "Normally, CG for a major explosion scene would take four to five days," Kang explained. "With AI, it took just one to two hours. The efficiency is on another level."
No green screens, all real sets
Unlike traditional VFX-heavy films, The Middle Realm was shot entirely on location without green screens. Actor Kim Kang-woo said, "Filming at real sites like Gwanghwamun made emotional immersion much easier — the environment itself guided our performances."
When asked whether AI could one day replace actors, Kang replied firmly: "Actors are creators, not tools. Technology can simulate flight or destruction, but it can never replicate human emotion."
Byun Yo-han added, "This film was an experiment to test how far AI could go in cinema. But ultimately, AI cannot exist without human imagination and creativity."
A new series begins
With a 60-minute runtime, The Middle Realm serves as the first installment of a larger AI-powered series. Kang explained, "It was originally planned as a two-hour film, but we divided it into parts due to technical constraints. We're developing this as a series."
The ending teases the sequel — Byun Yo-han's character transforms into a creature, his eyes glowing ominously before the credits roll. "The script for Part 2 is already complete," Kang revealed. "We'll move forward as AI technology evolves."
Actor Im Hyung-jun noted, "The Korean film market is struggling, but AI could help create more imaginative films with lower budgets."
Kang concluded, "AI will soon become a powerful tool in the film industry. I hope The Middle Realm serves as a new creative model for filmmakers and storytellers."
The Middle Realm opens exclusively at CGV theaters on October 15, marking the dawn of Korea's first AI-driven cinematic universe.
