The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'

  • 3

    S. Korea to stage massive military parade as tensions with North remain high

  • 5

    Seoul, Beijing try to mend fences as Russia and N. Korea grow closer

  • 7

    The ethical issues of AI: fighting the right battles

  • 9

    Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.

  • 11

    Low growth becomes new normal for Korean economy

  • 13

    LG Chem to build LFP cathode plant with Huayou in Morocco

  • 15

    4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey

  • 17

    AI reliance could undermine financial market stability: report

  • 19

    FSS warns fisheries cooperatives over sloppy response to failed overseas investment

  • 2

    Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China

  • 4

    China's 'batwoman' scientist warns another coronavirus outbreak is 'highly likely'

  • 6

    Patients, doctors at loggerheads as operating room CCTV footage made mandatory

  • 8

    Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation

  • 10

    Lee Jae-myung's possible arrest looms over main opposition party

  • 12

    Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars

  • 14

    An American high school experience in Seoul

  • 16

    Russian FM to visit Pyongyang next month as follow-up to Kim-Putin summit

  • 18

    TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion

  • 20

    Korea's Choi In-jeong wins gold in women's individual epee fencing

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Tue, September 26, 2023 | 01:08
Shows & Dramas
'Meeting You' creator on his controversial show: 'I hope it opens up dialogue' [VIDEO]
Posted : 2020-04-05 17:32
Updated : 2020-04-10 12:38
Lee Gyu-lee
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
The controversial TV show 'Meeting You' made it possible for a mother to meet her deceased daughter in virtual reality. Courtesy of MBC
The controversial TV show "Meeting You" made it possible for a mother to meet her deceased daughter in virtual reality. Courtesy of MBC

By Lee Gyu-lee

If a parent had the chance to meet their deceased child through virtual reality, would they?

A tearful "reunion" between a mother and a virtual recreation of her daughter, who died at the age of 7 in 2016, has brought an outpouring of emotional reactions since the documentary "Meeting You" was aired on Feb. 6.

While some people praise the "creative" use of the new technology, others criticize it for being "emotionally manipulative."

In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Kim Jong-woo said he was glad his show opened up such dialogue.

He said he may be the first one to use the technology in such a way, but certainly not the last. "Like photo technology did in the past, the technology will bring questions on how people should utilize it and to what extent," he added.

The controversial TV show 'Meeting You' made it possible for a mother to meet her deceased daughter in virtual reality. Courtesy of MBC
Kim Jong-woo, producer of the documentary, said VR "was a step beyond a picture or a video in terms of remembering someone." Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min

The video clip of Jang Ji-sung meeting her deceased daughter Na-yeon in virtual reality garnered more than 19 million views online.

"I believe, just like a picture or a video, virtual reality technology can be one way of remembering someone," Kim said. "The project started with the idea of meeting a deceased person. At first, I did not know which method to use to make it possible, but then I came across the VR technology."

He pointed out that the reunion was just one aspect of the far bigger story about the mother, the daughter and the family. The show touches on each family member's different way of remembering Na-yeon, building up moments toward the reunion day.

"I wanted to make the experience more real for viewers ― the experience of spending the past year with this family," Kim said.



Kim said there was something special about the family that motivated him to make the documentary on the family story.


"The mother wasn't just sad but wanted to meet the child again, because she died only a week after her diagnosis (of a mysterious illness)," he said. "The mother wanted to do something for her but she couldn't do anything."

The moment Jang puts on the VR gear, Na-yeon shows up behind a woodpile in a nearby park and runs toward her calling, "Mom." Na-yeon's father and her three siblings see the virtual world through a monitor.

Bursting into tears to see the digitalized figure in the daughter's favorite outfit, Jang tells virtual Na-yeon how much she has missed her in a quivering voice. "Mom missed you so much, Na-yeon," she said.

The controversial TV show 'Meeting You' made it possible for a mother to meet her deceased daughter in virtual reality. Courtesy of MBC
The production team inserted Na-yeon's favorite dishes, seaweed soup and rice cake, into the story. Courtesy of MBC

The VR story continues as the virtual Na-yeon invites Jang to the table filled with Na-yeon's favorite dishes, seaweed soup and rice cake ― a snack she said she wanted to eat if she recovered.

It took a few months for the production team to collect information of Na-yeon to create the digital world with all the details.

"Memory lies in the family's daily life," Kim said as he explained that the team took the time to observe the family and to gather the memories of Na-yeon.

"One thing I tried not to do was adding my thoughts to the show, which would make it look like a fictional game," he said. "Whether it might not seem as interesting or heartfelt, I wanted to create something fully based on the interviews. So they would think "this was what I had in mind.'"

The controversial TV show 'Meeting You' made it possible for a mother to meet her deceased daughter in virtual reality. Courtesy of MBC
A child model with similar features to Na-yeon goes through 3-D scanning to make the digitized figure. Courtesy of MBC

Kim said he made the avatar figure through 3-D scanning of a child model based on her photos and videos; he also reproduced her voice by using "similar voices" from child actors.

Given that the technology still has limits in visualizing a realistic human figure, he said he was not sure about the quality until the last minute.

"I was worried how the mother would react (when she sees the digitized Na-yeon)," Kim said. "No matter how hard we tried to make the character similar, she still can tell the difference. But she said she was happy to see even the slight reflection of Na-yeon."

He noted that despite the imperfect images of the VR world, the mother really engaged in the moment.

The controversial TV show 'Meeting You' made it possible for a mother to meet her deceased daughter in virtual reality. Courtesy of MBC
The production team plays out the VR story before the final day. Courtesy of MBC

During the reunion, the mother had a chance to say said goodbye ― the words that she was not able to say to her daughter in person before her sudden death.

The mother also said, "I still have things to do (in this world) and when I'm done, I will be with you Na-yeon … I love you."

After the first episode was aired, Jang told staff that she felt like she "had a nice dream."

"At the end of the day, she said she was happy to see her daughter on a big screen, rather than feeling manipulated," Kim said.

Taking this project as a foothold in applying technology in TV production. Kim said he would continue to take advantage of it for his productions.

"Thankfully, a lot of people reacted positively to my show, so I'm going to humbly review it before starting to work on the next one," he said.


Emailgyulee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
14 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey 4 in 10 Koreans experience overdue wages: survey
2[PHOTOS] Harvest season arrives PHOTOSHarvest season arrives
3Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z Tanghulu captures hearts of Korean millennials and Gen Z
4Homeplus' private brand products hit store shelves in Mongolia Homeplus' private brand products hit store shelves in Mongolia
5SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea SK earthon begins crude oil production in South China Sea
6[EXCLUSIVE] Lawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapeesEXCLUSIVELawmakers to submit resolution urging China to free N. Korean escapees
7LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system LG Uplus, Hanwha develop ceiling-mounted EV charging system
8Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts Korean gov't faces international criticism for R&D budget cuts
9Main opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrestMain opposition chief in showdown with prosecutors over arrest
10K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action K-pop fans rally in Seoul against luxury brands' failure on climate action
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D' BTS' Jungkook to drop 2nd solo single '3D'
2K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling QuranK-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
3Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK Cho Seong-jin celebrates 140-year ties between Korea, UK
4[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
5TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group