LG Heir and AI Studio Launch Joint Venture to Power AI-Driven Film Production
Key Points
- Brian Koo and Cecilia Shen launch Utopai East, a 50‑50 joint venture with Stock Farm Road and Utopai Studios.
- The venture will build AI infrastructure for movie and TV production, including a dedicated AI data center.
- Initial focus is on Korean creators, co‑producing content and expanding Korean IP internationally.
- First AI‑enhanced project is slated for release next year.
- Leaders stress AI will augment, not replace, human writers, directors, and actors.
- All AI models and datasets are fully licensed and contractually approved.
- SFR’s broader AI data center plan includes a 3‑gigawatt facility in South Korea.
- Future expansion targets additional Asian markets such as Japan, China, and Thailand.
Brian Koo, the grandson of LG Group’s founder, and Cecilia Shen of Utopai Studios have formed a 50-50 joint venture called Utopai East with investment firm Stock Farm Road. The partnership will build AI infrastructure for movie and TV production, co‑produce Korean content, and expand Korean intellectual property to international audiences. While the venture aims to lower costs and boost efficiency, its leaders stress that AI will augment, not replace, human creators. The first AI‑enhanced project is slated for release next year.
Joint Venture Overview
Brian Koo, the grandson of LG Group’s founder Koo In‑hwoi, together with Amin Badr‑El‑Din, co‑founded the investment firm Stock Farm Road (SFR). SFR has partnered with Utopai Studios, led by co‑founder and CEO Cecilia Shen, to launch a new joint venture named Utopai East. The venture is owned equally by SFR and Utopai Studios. SFR contributes capital, creative expertise, and industry contacts, while Utopai Studios provides AI technology, workflow, and production infrastructure. The partnership will develop a dedicated AI data center and related infrastructure to support the creation of movies and television shows using artificial intelligence.
The joint venture will begin production using existing infrastructure, with the first AI‑enhanced piece of content expected to be released next year. Early efforts will focus on Korean creators, working with both established directors and emerging talent. The venture also plans to co‑produce film and television projects and to broaden access to Korean intellectual property for audiences worldwide.
Implications for the Creative Industry
According to Koo, AI tools are intended primarily to lower production costs and increase efficiency, but they also open new creative possibilities. Shen emphasizes that the AI workflow is designed to work alongside filmmakers rather than replace them, maintaining the need for writers, directors, and actors. All AI models and datasets used by the venture are fully licensed and contractually approved, ensuring respect for original creators.
The partnership reflects a broader strategy by SFR, which recently agreed with the Jeollanam‑do Province government to build a 3‑gigawatt AI data center in South Korea. This data center will serve as the backbone for Utopai East’s entertainment‑focused AI infrastructure, covering data management, creative intelligence, production, and distribution. While the joint venture’s financial details remain undisclosed, capital is being sourced from SFR’s investment vehicles, sovereign and institutional investors, and industry partners in film and entertainment.
Utopai East aims first to produce Korean content, with future expansion plans that include markets such as Japan, China, and Thailand. The collaboration underscores a belief that AI can expand creative potential without supplanting human artistry, offering creators greater freedom to explore their visions.