nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in Asia: South Korea’s bold experiments with AI–involved movies, a questionable shift in Japan toward digital textbooks, and Hong Kong’s giant panda–focused tourism play. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
South Korea experiments with AI–developed films
South Korea’s use of AI in the film industry is showcasing AI’s potential in moviemaking. On 22 January 2025, a masterpiece of South Korean animated films was re–released in theaters after it had been digitally remastered by AI. Leafie, a Hen into the Wild, was heralded as “a new chapter in the Korean animation film history” upon its release in 2011. The 2D film, which explores the emotional journey of a chicken looking to improve her lot in life, set a record as the highest grossing Korean–made film in South Korea and the best export performance on an international stage. AI company Inshorts remastered the film in 4K through AI Super–Scaler technology. The Inshorts founder and CEO explained that using AI to remaster the film cut the cost of production in half and greatly reduced the time necessary to remaster the film.
This is not the first time the South Korean film industry has experimented with AI in films. The short film It’s Me, Mun–hee was released on 24 December 2024. The film features famous actress Na Mun–Hee, who never stepped foot on set thanks to the use of AI in creating her likeness. AI film M Hotel was also released in December. This short film was entirely created through AI technology, winning awards at the Busan International Artificial Intelligence Film Festival and Venice’s Reply AI Film Festival.
Japan might shift to digital textbooks, but is it for the better?
Japan’s Education Ministry is considering embracing digital media for its school system, hoping to change the standards around digital content use in schools by 2026 and implement changes by 2030. The ministry embraced an active learning approach for students in 2017, and one means of active learning is relying on digital media like QR code–linked videos or audio to accompany textbooks. The ministry wants to embrace digital media even further, hoping to allow schools to exclusively use digital textbooks by 2030. Using digital textbooks would ideally allow students easy access to further supplementary material. If these changes are approved, education boards may choose to use exclusively digital textbooks.
However, some educators are critical of the proposal. One professor warns the ministry to do more research before deciding. One concern around the use of digital textbooks is the screening of material included in digital textbooks, which is currently unscreened. Similarly, there are concerns about students’ ability to retain information when using digital textbooks, as well as possible eye strain. One article cites Sweden’s reversal of a similar shift to digital textbooks as a reason for the ministry to reconsider. Sweden reintroduced physical textbooks after a decrease in test scores. However, these test scores coincided with the pandemic and may not be a reliable indicator of the failings of digital textbooks.
Hong Kong’s tourism secret weapon: giant pandas
In December 2024, Hong Kong hosted the largest panda exhibit, PANDA GO! FEST, which featured 2,500 panda sculptures. The exhibit features six pandas modeled after the six giant pandas in zoos in Hong Kong, bringing attention to the conservation of the critically endangered species. In addition to the record–breaking number of statues, PANDA GO! FEST invited multiple celebrities like singer Pharrell Williams, the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, artist Kasing Lung, and actress Du Juan to create unique panda sculpture designs for a charity auction. The auction raised HK$405,400, which will be donated to the Ocean Park theme park that hosts the giant pandas.
Aside from raising awareness around giant pandas and the ongoing conservation efforts of China’s government, PANDA GO! FEST is also intended to increase tourism to the city. Although Hong Kong’s government budgeted around HK$129 million for tourism in 2024, tourism in the city has decreased. Capitalizing on the giant panda craze—especially by making the sculptures representative of the characteristics of the real pandas living in Ocean Park—is one way Hong Kong is attempting to bolster tourism, atop flight ticket giveaways and trips for influencers. It is hoped that PANDA GO! FEST will increase traffic to Hong Kong’s landmarks as the sculpture exhibit moves around the city. Similarly, the giant pandas themselves are a huge tourist attraction as international visitors travel just to see the adorable, famous animals.
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South Korea experiments with AI–developed films
February 6, 2025
Diplomatic Courier writer Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the–radar stories from Asia: South Korea’s AI films, digital textbooks in Japan, and giant pandas in Hong Kong.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month in Asia: South Korea’s bold experiments with AI–involved movies, a questionable shift in Japan toward digital textbooks, and Hong Kong’s giant panda–focused tourism play. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
South Korea experiments with AI–developed films
South Korea’s use of AI in the film industry is showcasing AI’s potential in moviemaking. On 22 January 2025, a masterpiece of South Korean animated films was re–released in theaters after it had been digitally remastered by AI. Leafie, a Hen into the Wild, was heralded as “a new chapter in the Korean animation film history” upon its release in 2011. The 2D film, which explores the emotional journey of a chicken looking to improve her lot in life, set a record as the highest grossing Korean–made film in South Korea and the best export performance on an international stage. AI company Inshorts remastered the film in 4K through AI Super–Scaler technology. The Inshorts founder and CEO explained that using AI to remaster the film cut the cost of production in half and greatly reduced the time necessary to remaster the film.
This is not the first time the South Korean film industry has experimented with AI in films. The short film It’s Me, Mun–hee was released on 24 December 2024. The film features famous actress Na Mun–Hee, who never stepped foot on set thanks to the use of AI in creating her likeness. AI film M Hotel was also released in December. This short film was entirely created through AI technology, winning awards at the Busan International Artificial Intelligence Film Festival and Venice’s Reply AI Film Festival.
Japan might shift to digital textbooks, but is it for the better?
Japan’s Education Ministry is considering embracing digital media for its school system, hoping to change the standards around digital content use in schools by 2026 and implement changes by 2030. The ministry embraced an active learning approach for students in 2017, and one means of active learning is relying on digital media like QR code–linked videos or audio to accompany textbooks. The ministry wants to embrace digital media even further, hoping to allow schools to exclusively use digital textbooks by 2030. Using digital textbooks would ideally allow students easy access to further supplementary material. If these changes are approved, education boards may choose to use exclusively digital textbooks.
However, some educators are critical of the proposal. One professor warns the ministry to do more research before deciding. One concern around the use of digital textbooks is the screening of material included in digital textbooks, which is currently unscreened. Similarly, there are concerns about students’ ability to retain information when using digital textbooks, as well as possible eye strain. One article cites Sweden’s reversal of a similar shift to digital textbooks as a reason for the ministry to reconsider. Sweden reintroduced physical textbooks after a decrease in test scores. However, these test scores coincided with the pandemic and may not be a reliable indicator of the failings of digital textbooks.
Hong Kong’s tourism secret weapon: giant pandas
In December 2024, Hong Kong hosted the largest panda exhibit, PANDA GO! FEST, which featured 2,500 panda sculptures. The exhibit features six pandas modeled after the six giant pandas in zoos in Hong Kong, bringing attention to the conservation of the critically endangered species. In addition to the record–breaking number of statues, PANDA GO! FEST invited multiple celebrities like singer Pharrell Williams, the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, artist Kasing Lung, and actress Du Juan to create unique panda sculpture designs for a charity auction. The auction raised HK$405,400, which will be donated to the Ocean Park theme park that hosts the giant pandas.
Aside from raising awareness around giant pandas and the ongoing conservation efforts of China’s government, PANDA GO! FEST is also intended to increase tourism to the city. Although Hong Kong’s government budgeted around HK$129 million for tourism in 2024, tourism in the city has decreased. Capitalizing on the giant panda craze—especially by making the sculptures representative of the characteristics of the real pandas living in Ocean Park—is one way Hong Kong is attempting to bolster tourism, atop flight ticket giveaways and trips for influencers. It is hoped that PANDA GO! FEST will increase traffic to Hong Kong’s landmarks as the sculpture exhibit moves around the city. Similarly, the giant pandas themselves are a huge tourist attraction as international visitors travel just to see the adorable, famous animals.
