On the night of April 10, the night of the general election, a drone show was broadcast by a station behind the National Assembly. We see the words “A choice that changes my life”. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 10 (Korea Bizwire) –Foreign news outlets have praised South Korean broadcasters for their fresh and engaging attempts at election night coverage for the recent general elections.
In an article titled “Is This a K-Drama? No, It’s Election Night in South Korea,” the BBC highlighted how major South Korean broadcasters incorporated elements of popular culture, artificial intelligence (AI), and graphics to present entertaining programs during their election night broadcasts.
The BBC reported that SBS plans to feature scenes parodying the popular 2003 drama “Stairway to Heaven” and mimicking the Tom Cruise film “Mission: Impossible” during its election coverage, the result of a year-long effort by the broadcaster.
One of the broadcast planners was quoted as saying that preparing for the election night coverage was akin to organizing the Olympics, the world’s biggest sporting event.
The BBC also noted that KBS has prepared a segment where AI-generated avatars of candidates will engage in a rap battle during its election broadcast. These avatars are expected to perform songs and dances based on their policy platforms.
Broadcasters park their vehicles in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during the evening hours on April 10, the day of the general election. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The BBC shed light on the pros and cons surrounding these broadcasters’ innovative approaches.
On the positive side, the broadcasts were credited with stimulating conversations among friends and family members, captivating some younger voters by avoiding dullness.
The use of memes and computer graphics was seen as making politicians’ authoritative images more approachable, potentially boosting interest in politics among the younger generation.
However, the BBC also highlighted that not all voters were satisfied with the broadcasters’ fresh takes on election night coverage, with some older viewers finding the broadcasts too noisy and distracting.
Concerns were raised that while deploying AI, graphics, and other techniques might boost viewership, it could also overshadow the importance of key election issues such as economic problems, aging populations, and rising living costs.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
