AI Reshaping the Content Industry: Quality and Rights Protection Remain Challenges

From Planning to Post-Production:
AI Spreads Across the Entire Content Creation Process

Concerns Over Low-Quality "Game Slop"

Calls for Creator Rights Protection and AI Utilization Support

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into the content ecosystem, experts are suggesting that the roles and authority of humans in the production process need to be redesigned. There is a growing consensus that, while increasing productivity through AI, support systems must be established to guarantee creators' rights and to facilitate the effective use of AI.

'AI Era, New Leap and Policy Challenges of Korea's Content Industry' forum held on the 29th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Eunseo Lee.

On September 29, Assemblyman Kim Jaewon of the New Reform Party co-hosted the "New Leap and Policy Challenges of South Korea's Content Industry in the AI Era" forum together with the Korea Internet Corporations Association at the 5th meeting room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

In the content industry, AI is evolving from a tool that merely assists tasks to a force that is transforming the entire production process. According to the Korea Creative Content Agency's "2025 Labor Environment Survey for the Content Industry," 34.1% of content businesses officially incorporate AI into their work. The scope of AI utilization, previously limited to supporting roles such as data searches, drafts, and subtitle transcription, is now expanding to include post-production tasks like editing and mastering. Professor Lee Donggyu of Dong-A University stated, "Content production processes are shifting to an AI-based loop model, in which content generation and optimization are repeated using AI," adding, "As AI is increasingly utilized, human oversight is becoming more critical."

The adoption of AI is particularly active in the gaming industry. In South Korea's gaming sector, the average company-wide adoption rate is about 50%, surpassing the overall average of 33.8% for the broader content industry. AI is used for simulations at the early planning stage, as well as in certain aspects of game development and operations.

However, there are clear quality-related challenges. One of the main concerns is "game slop," referring to the mass production of low-quality games using AI. Kang Seungmi, Executive Director at Samjong KPMG, noted, "While business diversification and efficiency gains through AI are opportunities, the growing number of low-quality games could drive users to other industries."

Consequently, participants agreed on the need to clarify the roles of humans and AI by genre and production stage, and to establish support systems and standards for protecting creators' rights alongside the expansion of AI. Professor Lee said, "Applying AI to key stages such as planning and production, which are close to the core of creation, will require social consensus," emphasizing, "We also need to consider technical training to respond to changing job roles brought by AI and provide support for freelancers."

Kim Sungjoon, Director of Game Technology at the Korea Creative Content Agency, remarked, "AI presents an opportunity, not a threat, to the gaming industry," and added, "We are opening existing game production support programs to allow the utilization of AI."

Attorney Lee Yongmin of Yulchon LLC stated, "For obligations to indicate AI-generated content or to certify human-created content to be effective for users, it is essential to impose appropriate requirements and establish standards for content platforms."

Assemblyman Kim said, "We will devise policies so that AI can become a new competitive edge for the content industry, while ensuring that the value and rights of creators are protected."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.