“Winter Sonata” from 20 Years Ago Revived Through AI Technology and Live Performances

KBS drama “Winter Sonata,” which aired in 2002 and marked the beginning of the Hallyu wave, is returning in a new format that combines artificial intelligence technology with live performances. The event “Winter Sonata 2025 Ongojisin ver.” will take place from December 2 to 5 at Seongam Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, and represents the world’s first fusion concert that integrates AI remastering technology with live music performances. Planned by BigApple Entertainment and sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Tourism Foundation, and Gonghang Limousine, this performance serves as a showcase ahead of its official release next year. Its goal is to establish itself as a representative Hallyu performance brand for Seoul by blending memories from the past with the present. The core of this performance lies in the restoration of the original drama footage. Dexter Studio’s AI remastering technology will restore scenes from “Winter Sonata” filmed over 20 years ago in 4K high definition. Audiences will be able to view the snowy landscapes of Nami Island and scenes featuring the main characters on large LED screens while simultaneously experiencing real-time live music on stage. The combination of AI-generated visuals and live vocals creates a seamless transition between the atmosphere of those original scenes and the energy of the current performance. The stage music will be provided by the pop opera group ContempoDivo, composed of tenors and baritones. Known as “Korea’s Idoli Divo,” they will perform seven songs live, including the drama’s iconic tracks “My Memory” and “From the Beginning to Now,” as well as “Beautiful Fact” by Boohwal, “Hymn of Love” by Edith Piaf, and two new songs composed by music director Jang Ji-won. The theme of the performance, “Ongojisin” (溫故知新), means “discovering new values by warmly reflecting on the past.” It conveys a symbolic message of “recreating memories” through the fusion of AI technology and artistic sensibility, rather than simply restoring the past. Seongam Art Hall will be transformed into a custom-built venue with 200 seats. The interior has been styled to match the winter atmosphere of Gangnam, adorned with Christmas lighting, and features an initial stage layout designed for the “Winter Sonata 2025” brand event. BigApple Entertainment plans to develop this performance format into a “Seoul-based tourism performance product” for foreign tourists starting next year, building on it as a representative AI-driven Hallyu performance brand for Seoul’s winter season to be used in promotional efforts targeting Asian tourists. “Winter Sonata,” which opened the doors to Hallyu over 20 years ago, now signals the beginning of new Hallyu content through the integration of AI and performing arts.