The Japan Times - KBS Revives Historical Epic 'Sword & Silence' With AI-Enhanced Battle Scenes

Korean broadcaster KBS is launching its first major historical epic in three years with "Sword & Silence," a 28-episode series that employs artificial intelligence to reconstruct massive seventh-century battle scenes. The drama, which follows King Munmu’s efforts to unify Korea’s Three Kingdoms, premieres Saturday on KBS and will stream globally on Netflix.

The production marks a significant return to the historical epic genre for the public broadcaster, a format that has become increasingly rare on Korean television as traditional viewership declines. KBS Chief Producer Lee Ho stated at a press conference in Seoul on Thursday that the series represents an effort to revive the blockbuster style of storytelling that once defined the network's peak popularity.

"AI has advanced considerably over the year and a half we've been working on the series," Lee said. "Whenever new technology became available, we tried to incorporate it."

The integration of AI was not uniform across the production but was deployed strategically where conventional methods proved insufficient or impractical. While the Battle of Mount Jupil relied largely on traditional visual effects, the Battle of Maesoseong, which depicted clashes between Silla and Tang dynasty forces, utilized greater AI involvement. The technology played an even more prominent role in recreating Silla’s decisive naval victory at Gibeolpo, a sequence that was still undergoing post-production at the time of the press conference.

Lee explained that the technology allowed the crew to recreate dangerous scenes and moments requiring high realism without the need for individual, risky filming setups. "We used AI to recreate dangerous scenes and moments that needed to look realistic, including shots we no longer had to film individually using conventional methods," he said.

The series follows Kim Beop-min as King Munmu of Silla (57 B.C.–A.D. 935). The narrative covers the final stages of unifying Korea’s Three Kingdoms in the seventh century. After the fall of Baekje (18 B.C.-A.D. 660) and Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D. 668), Munmu joins forces with people from the defeated kingdoms to drive out China's Tang dynasty (618–907) and secure Silla's independence.

Actors working within this AI-enhanced environment faced unique challenges. Jang Hyuk, who portrays Goguryeo military leader Yeon Gaesomun, noted that acting against digital backdrops required significant adjustment. He described a scene filmed in Mongolia where he delivered a speech before approximately 450 horses, despite the script depicting him addressing an army of 150,000.

"I don't think AI is perfect yet, particularly when it comes to conveying emotion," Jang said. "The actors still have to be at the center of it, bringing the emotions to life, while the technology fills in what is around them."

The production’s scale comes with a substantial financial commitment. Reports indicate the budget for "Sword & Silence" has reached 30 billion won ($22.6 million), surpassing KBS's previous record of 27 billion won set by its 2023 series "Korea–Khitan War." Lee declined to confirm the exact figure but acknowledged that the scope of the series, which spans multiple kingdoms and empires, required substantial investment to accurately recreate the period's architecture and warfare.

Historical accuracy remains a critical concern for Korean historical dramas, which frequently face public backlash over creative liberties taken with events, particularly those involving politically sensitive relations with neighboring countries. Such controversies have impacted recent productions, including MBC's "Perfect Crown." Lee stated that producers took "extensive effort" to avoid similar issues by basing the story on historical records and working closely with academic advisers to review important details.

The revival of the genre aligns with KBS’s pledge made last October to produce a historical epic annually. This strategy follows the reinstatement of a system that collects television license fees through electricity bills. KBS President Park Jang-beom stated on Thursday that this financial change has helped stabilize the broadcaster's operations.

Park emphasized the series' central theme of unity, drawing parallels between the divisions depicted in the drama and modern Korean society, including conflicts over gender and political ideology. "I hope politicians will watch this drama, too," Park said. "While Korea's economy and culture have earned admiration around the world, many feel that its politics leave much to be desired."

He added, "I hope they can learn something from the leadership of our ancestors, who overcame conflict and division to achieve unity."

While Silla’s unification is a popular subject in Korean media, King Munmu himself has rarely taken center stage, often overshadowed by figures such as his father, Kim Chun-chu, and Yeon Gaesomun. Lee Hyun-wook, who plays the titular role, said this lack of previous portrayals offered creative freedom rather than pressure.

"Rather than feeling pressured, I was excited by how much room there was to explore the character," Lee said. "Munmu was a master of restraint […] the challenge was figuring out how to convey his ability to embrace his people and his country without making him overly emotional."

"Sword & Silence" premieres on KBS this Saturday, with global streaming rights secured by Netflix.

M.Saito--JT