Chung-Ang University's Immersive Media Innovation Convergence University Project Group and Chung-Ang University's Virtual Convergence University hosted the "International Conference on Immersive Media and Content 2026" at the Rise Autograph Collection in Seoul on January 13th. The event was themed "The Convergence of Immersive Media and AI: Hyper-Realistic Content and Interactive Experiences."
The conference was sponsored by numerous organizations, including the Ministry of Education, the National Research Foundation of Korea, the Real-World Media Innovation Convergence University Project, the Advanced Field Innovation Convergence University Project, the Korea Culture and Information Service, the Korean Game Society, and the Korea Metaverse Industry Association. This year's event, now in its third year, featured nine speakers representing global industry, academia, and government, including Vietnamese government officials, the UK, and Japan.
The event consisted of three parts: national policy; the convergence of AI, robotics, and haptic technologies with immersive media; and the realization of social value. In his welcoming address, Wi Jeong-hyeon, Director of the Center for Immersive Media Innovation and Convergence at Chung-Ang University, noted that the convergence of immersive media and AI is transcending technological trends and transforming social communication and work practices.
In a keynote speech, An Tuan Pham, Director General of Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications, outlined a government-led digital transformation strategy, stating that the government is pursuing the full digitalization of public services based on the expansion of 5G infrastructure and a digital identity system. He emphasized that digital transformation must lead to increased economic productivity, and that data itself becomes new economic value.
Director Wi Jeong-hyeon then presented the importance of middle-tech with high public accessibility as a strategy for expanding the virtual convergence industry. He explained the direction of sustainable development by using technologies that can be applied in everyday life to expand industrial demand and by exemplifying their contribution to solving social issues such as tourism and disaster response.
Session 1 presented topics such as the AI multiverse, interactive robotics and haptic technology, agentic AI, and examples of Japanese immersive content. Speakers shared the technological evolution of AI, which allows it to construct virtual worlds on its own, and its potential applications in healthcare, user experience, and cultural content.
Session 2 presented practical applications of game AI, immersive documentaries for climate change response, and examples of metaverse-based cultural heritage tours. Presenters focused their discussions on how cutting-edge technologies translate into tangible value in industrial settings and the public sector.
Director Wi Jeong-hyeon praised this conference for providing concrete paths for innovation in diverse fields, including healthcare, the environment, and cultural heritage. He stated that Chung-Ang University will continue to strengthen its industry-academia-government collaboration network and foster convergent talent, contributing to the creation of an ecosystem where technological innovation translates into social value.
You must be logged in to post a comment.