Recently, virtual idol groups, such as Plave, Isegye Idol, and Mave:, have significantly impacted the idol industry. These digital characters, brought to life through computer graphics and artificial intelligence (AI), exist in either two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) forms. Their influence is growing as they capture increasing public attention. For instance, Plave, a leading virtual idol group, ranked second in the K-pop boy group rankings for the first week of April 2024 and secured first place on various major album sales charts with their second album Exodus. According to Emergen Research, the virtual humans market is projected to grow from 13 trillion won in 2020 to 700 trillion won by 2030, indicating the rising influence of virtual idols. 

The Revival of Virtual Avatars in K-pop

  The emergence of virtual idols is not an unprecedented phenomenon. It dates back to 1998 with the debut of South Korea’s first virtual singer, Adam. Known for his impressive vocal abilities, Adam gained significant popularity in a short time. Selling approximately 200,000 copies of his debut album, he became a top star within just three months, even landing a beverage commercial?an achievement usually reserved for the most famous celebrities. However, due to technological limitations, Adam’s career was short-lived, as he abruptly disappeared after releasing his second album in 1999.

  Years later, the use of virtual avatars in K-pop reemerged with the debut of the group Aespa in 2020. Aespa introduced a unique concept that blended reality with virtual elements, featuring virtual avatars as alternate personas of the members. Following this, fully virtual idol groups such as Isegye Idol, Mave:, and Plave emerged, signaling a new era in the K-pop industry. 

  The resurgence of virtual idols can be largely attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Woo Tack from the Dept. of Digital Contents at Kyung Hee University explains that COVID-19 accelerated the development of non-face-to-face technologies, advancing metaverse technology and enabling interactions in 3D virtual worlds. He also noted that public resistance to immersive media?technology that delivers sensory information to maximize immersion and presence?has significantly diminished. As a result, people have recognized that these technologies can facilitate previously impossible activities while increasing efficiency. He further pointed out that this acceptance has persisted even after the pandemic, leading to the continued use of immersive media technology across various areas of life. Consequently, the public’s acceptance of virtual idols grew, significantly contributing to their rise. 

Virtual Idols and the Technology Behind Their Realism

  Today’s popular virtual idols rely on motion capture technology, which records the physical movements of people using cameras, lights, magnets, and other tools. This data is then applied to computer-generated characters, enabling virtual idols to exhibit lifelike movements. In the past, converting a person’s movements into digital data, followed by post-processing and refinement, could take several months. However, the advent of real-time motion capture has revolutionized the industry by allowing the near-instantaneous creation of digital human content, significantly speeding up production.

  As motion capture technology has become more accessible, creating virtual avatars has become easier. This democratization has allowed both professionally trained individuals and ordinary people, like those involved in Isegye Idol, to step into the spotlight as virtual idols, leading to the rapid emergence and diversity of numerous virtual idols. 

  Emerging virtual idols can be broadly categorized into two types: those without real-world counterparts, like Mave:, and those directly linked to real people, like Isegye Idol and Plave. Virtual idols without real-world counterparts are entirely AI-driven, characterized by their realistic, human-like appearances, and they use voice synthesis technology or AI language models to create voices and speech. In contrast, virtual idols linked to real people reflect the person’s voice, personality, and other traits, allowing them to interact with fans in real-time through online live broadcasts or offline concerts. 

Balancing Appeal and Acceptance of Virtual Idols

  With advancements in technology, virtual idols have become increasingly popular, driven by several unique characteristics that set them apart from their real-life counterparts. Prof. Woo notes that maintaining an ideal, unchanging image is crucial in the idol industry. Unlike non-virtual idols, who often need to keep a physical distance from their audience to preserve their image, virtual idols are not subject to the limitations of the physical world. Their digital nature means they are unaffected by real-world actions or controversies, allowing them to consistently maintain an ideal image. Prof. Woo emphasizes that this ability to appear always close to their fans, even more so than real-life idols, is a key factor in their growing popularity.

  However, some people still struggle to accept virtual idols. Prof. Woo suggests that this reluctance may be strongly influenced by the uncanny valley phenomenon?a theory that as non-human entities become more human-like, they initially become more appealing, but beyond a certain point, they evoke discomfort. He explains that hyper-realistic digital humans, which appear almost real yet still distinctly virtual, may trigger this effect. To counteract this, many emerging virtual idols intentionally adopt cartoon-like imagery, emphasizing their virtual nature to avoid discomfort. 

  Additionally, he notes that the awkward speech and behavior of virtual idols without a real-world counterpart may also contribute to this discomfort. Furthermore, he suggests that whether there is a real person behind a virtual idol can significantly influence their popularity. He points out that virtual idols with a real-world counterpart tend to be more popular because they can interact with fans in real-time through online live broadcasts or offline concerts, which enhances the bond between the idols and their fans. 

  Virtual idols are currently establishing themselves as rising stars in the industry, but there are still clear divisions in public opinion due to the technology not yet being fully developed. Prof. Woo predicts that in the near future, the speech and behavior of AI virtual idols will evolve to a point where the public no longer finds them awkward, leading to further growth in the virtual idol market. He emphasizes that the potential for utilizing and expanding virtual idols is limitless, and their digital nature offers significant cost savings compared to their real-world counterparts. 

  Nonetheless, he acknowledges the potential ethical issues associated with virtual idols. While the high potential for utilization presents many opportunities, it also increases the risk of misuse, making it crucial to establish clear moral standards. Despite these concerns, the popularization of virtual idols is gradually progressing and is expected to soon be recognized as a cultural phenomenon. As technology advances, the way virtual idols integrate into people’s lives and shape new cultural trends is something to watch with anticipation.