[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] As risks associated with actors have escalated to unpredictable levels, the content production industry is exploring various alternatives. In particular, with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, there is discussion about whether AI could replace actors in these roles.

The broadcasting industry recently took a direct hit from “actor risk” when it belatedly came to light that Jo Jin-woong, a cast member of tvN’s “Signal” Season 2, had a history of juvenile delinquency. Although filming for “Signal” Season 2 has already been completed, concerns have been raised about whether the series will be released as scheduled following the controversy surrounding the actor.
Actor Ha Young, who is currently filming the new SBS drama *We Have a Chance*, has also faced concerns from some netizens regarding his continued participation in the project after details emerged about his great-grandfather Ahn Sang-ho’s pro-Japanese activities. Meanwhile, Hong Min-ki, who appeared in TVING’s *Study Group 2*, is embroiled in a dispute over the truth after his ex-girlfriend alleged that he had committed dating violence against her.
Previously, on KBS2’s “The River Where the Moon Rises,” lead actor Ji-soo was embroiled in allegations of school bullying, prompting the production to recast Na In-woo and continue filming. Similarly, on tvN’s “My Uncle,” after Me Too allegations surfaced against cast member Oh Dal-soo, the production recast Park Ho-san and even reshot scenes that had already been filmed. Reshoots result in additional costs and time, causing significant damage. If a show is aired without replacing the actor or editing out their scenes, it undermines viewers’ immersion in the story.
In the production industry, “actor risk” is a long-standing concern. It is impossible to verify or control every aspect of an actor’s past or private life, and even if allegations are merely raised—regardless of their veracity—the production cannot avoid taking a hit. This “risk,” which cannot be predicted or prepared for in advance, results in the production having to bear the consequences.
An official from a production company stated, “Even actors who have built trust in the industry over many years and deliver solid performances can get caught up in controversy and face problems, so ‘actor risk’ is difficult to predict and prepare for,” adding, “However, since actors are the faces that represent a production, it’s impossible to avoid the repercussions for the project when issues arise, which causes significant distress.”
With recent advancements in AI technology, some are pointing to AI actors as an alternative to “actor risk.” Recently, short-form content featuring AI actors has been gaining traction. In China, AI dramas are being actively produced. These have drawn particular attention as they are being scheduled not only on online platforms but also on terrestrial broadcast networks. AI actors are unlikely to face past controversies or future privacy scandals. Since filming schedules can be adjusted with ease, AI actors are becoming an attractive option for production companies.
Although the use of AI during the production phase is on the rise in the domestic content market, there is not yet a full-scale push to produce AI dramas.
An official from a production company stated, “We have discussed producing dramas using AI actors, but due to various anticipated concerns, the discussions have not progressed beyond that stage,” adding, “In domestic content, viewer immersion depends on the actors’ emotional performances, but AI actors’ emotional acting is still lacking.”
Another official also noted, “There is still a cautious attitude toward producing content that prominently features AI,” adding, “For more active adoption to follow, there need to be more use cases and successful examples.”
Nevertheless, some view AI as a promising alternative for reducing “actor risk.” A production company official noted, “Given the rapid growth of AI technology, we would be eager to try it out if it reaches a level capable of expressing actors’ emotional nuances,” and pointed out, “Actors’ fees have recently skyrocketed, driving up production costs; if AI technology advances, we believe it could reduce production costs and mitigate actor risk.”