Smilegate, a South Korean game and entertainment company, has been expanding into the digital human and virtual human sector through its AI division, Smilegate.AI. It has developed lifelike AI-powered characters such as Han YuA, blending facial modeling, natural language processing, and emotional interaction for applications in entertainment and communication. Smilegate uses Unreal Engine and partners with firms like Giantstep to create hyper-realistic digital humans, as seen in projects like Project Vincent. The company has also showcased digital human innovations at global events and offers virtual human-related job roles and R&D.
Supertify (supertify.kr) is a South Korea-based entertainment tech company focused on nurturing emerging artists and creators into global intellectual property (IP) brands. Officially launched in November 2024 as a subsidiary of Blank Corporation, Supertify uses TikTok Live, short-form content, and data-driven methods to develop talent and foster strong fan engagement. The company operates under the slogan “Make Super Creators, Make Super Fans,” and has launched initiatives like STAGE:0 auditions and the Teach Me Idol project in collaboration with Rabbitfactory. Led by CEO and co-founder Kwangmin Kim, Supertify positions itself at the intersection of AI, entertainment, and virtual character development, offering regular content through TikTok, Instagram, and Threads, with growing fan interaction and creator support infrastructure.
TBWA has played a central role in South Korea’s virtual human advertising landscape, most notably through its collaboration with Shinhan Life to launch the virtual influencer “Rozy,” a 22-year-old female character portrayed as eternally youthful and tech-savvy. Developed as part of Shinhan Life’s rebranding, Rozy was created using AI and digital human technologies and has become a well-known advertising figure, even appearing in interviews and TV ads. TBWA’s work highlights the growing trend of companies using digital humans instead of traditional celebrities to avoid risks and increase campaign control. TBWA Korea also operates the “Senior Lab” and “Data Lab,” exploring how digital humans impact different demographics, while its global network experiments with AI-driven platforms like “Collective AI” to support content creation.
TwinWorld is a real-world metaverse platform developed by DoubleMe, a Silicon Valley-based XR (extended reality) startup specializing in real-time volumetric capture technology. The platform allows users to create, share, and interact with immersive mixed reality experiences using devices such as HoloLens 2 and Meta Quest. TwinWorld merges physical and virtual environments into "social holographic reality," enabling collaborative augmented reality spaces that can host entertainment, education, and retail content. Since its beta launch in 2020, TwinWorld has attracted notable investments, including $25 million in Series A funding with participation from Samsung.
VA Corporation is a South Korean metaverse and virtual production company known for developing interactive digital humans and virtual actors. It gained attention for being one of the first in Korea to produce real-time, interactive virtual humans and for unveiling multi-ethnic digital human characters. The company has also built an asset library for virtual production and specializes in technologies such as digital humans, XR stages, in-camera VFX, and AI-driven immersive content. Headquartered in Seoul, it plays a key role in advancing Korea's virtual content and metaverse industry.
Yue Hua Entertainment Korea is a branch of the multinational Yuehua Entertainment, operating as a global comprehensive entertainment agency in South Korea. It manages artists including WOODZ, EVERGLOW, Choi Yena, Lee Do-hyun, and TEMPEST. The company is active in K-pop, film, drama, and variety show production, and regularly holds auditions both domestically and internationally. It also promotes artist content such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and casting updates, while continuing to expand its presence in the Korean entertainment industry.
ZEPETO, developed by Naver Z Corporation, is a leading global metaverse platform centered on customizable 3D avatars. It allows users to interact socially, play games, create digital content, and engage with virtual humans and virtual influencers. The platform has expanded into areas like blockchain, fashion, advertising, and entertainment, supporting the creation of avatars and environments using Unity and motion capture technologies. ZEPETO has hosted collaborations with celebrities and brands, facilitated virtual concerts and fan meetings, and enabled companies to use digital humans for marketing and retail. It is often referenced alongside emerging digital human technologies and is considered a major platform for Gen Z engagement in South Korea and globally.