Kling AI, the video generation platform owned by Chinese tech company Kuaishou, is building its presence in South Korea by investing in student creators rather than focusing solely on established studios. The company held an awards ceremony on July 7 for its "Kling AI NextGen 2026 University Creative Challenge" at the Seoul Film Center, showcasing works from about 500 undergraduate and graduate students across 60 universities nationwide.

Why Is Kling AI Targeting University Students?

The competition attracted 184 submissions from 10 partner universities, including Korea University, Seoul Institute of the Arts, Hongik University, and Chung-Ang University. The strategy appears designed to build long-term loyalty among creators early in their careers while demonstrating that AI video tools can lower barriers to professional-quality content creation. Director Min Kyu-dong, who judged the competition, captured this philosophy succinctly.

"The reason tools like Kling AI are welcome is that they lower the barrier to creation and return the question of 'why do humans create?' to more people," stated Min Kyu-dong, Director of the films "Paragon" and "Memento Mori."

Min Kyu-dong, Film Director

The competition included educational components as well. Starting in April, Kling AI conducted AI video production workshops at partner universities, teaching students about production workflows, prompt design, and practical video creation techniques. This hands-on approach goes beyond simply hosting a contest; it positions Kling AI as an educational partner in South Korea's creative ecosystem.

What Types of Content Did Student Creators Produce?

The submissions spanned diverse creative formats, reflecting the versatility of AI video generation tools. Student creators submitted short feature films, music videos, commercial advertisements, and experimental videos. The Grand Award winner, "The Well," was recognized for achieving a filming texture close to that of a live-action film, while another standout entry, "BARI DEIGI," reinterpreted Korean traditional mythology through a music video format.

• Short Feature Films: Students created narrative-driven content using AI video generation to handle visual production while maintaining creative control over storytelling and direction.
• Music Videos: Creators used Kling AI to produce visual accompaniment for music, including works that blended traditional Korean cultural elements with modern AI-generated imagery.
• Commercial Advertisements: Students developed advertising content, demonstrating practical applications of AI video tools in marketing and brand communication.
• Experimental Videos: Participants explored unconventional uses of the technology, pushing creative boundaries beyond traditional media formats.

One award-winning student, Park Ji-soo, 24, from Hongik University, explained how she approached the tool strategically. Rather than replacing human creativity, she used Kling AI selectively at different production stages.

"The biggest advantage of AI, particularly Kling AI, is that it can be used selectively as needed at every stage of creation. AI can be applied at the necessary stages, from conceiving ideas and creating storyboards to image generation, video production, and post-production editing, while the parts you want to express directly can still be completed on your own," explained Park Ji-soo, Hongik University student and award winner.

Park Ji-soo, Hongik University Student

How Is Kling AI Expanding Beyond Universities in South Korea?

While the university contest generates buzz among emerging creators, Kling AI is simultaneously deepening partnerships with established production studios. Studio Meta K, a professional video production company, has integrated Kling AI into broadcast television production for major Korean networks. The studio has applied the technology to programs including KBS's "History Special," MBC's "Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung," ENA's "My Precious Star," and MBN's "Dolsingles 7".

Kim Kwang-jip, CEO of Studio Meta K, signaled confidence in scaling this approach across the industry.

"We will actively apply Kling AI's technological capabilities to broadcast and film production sites to raise both production efficiency and the quality of the results," stated Kim Kwang-jip, CEO of Studio Meta K.

Kim Kwang-jip, CEO of Studio Meta K

This dual strategy of supporting both student creators and professional studios reflects Kling AI's broader ambitions in South Korea. The platform plans to select Korean institutions as first-generation officially certified partners, offering benefits such as new customer development support, sales incentive rewards, and priority access to beta testing of new models.

What Is Kling AI's Global Reach?

Kling AI's South Korean expansion occurs against a backdrop of significant global growth. As of June 2026, the platform has surpassed 100 million users worldwide and operates in 224 countries and regions, with approximately 50,000 corporate customers. South Korea's participation in Kling AI's global "4K Short Film Creative Contest" underscores the country's engagement with the platform; more than 10,000 works were submitted globally, with over 200 from Korea, placing the country sixth worldwide in terms of participant numbers.

The investment in Korean creators and studios signals that Kling AI views South Korea as a strategic market for growth, particularly as competition in AI video generation intensifies globally. By building relationships with both emerging and established creators, the platform is positioning itself as an essential tool across South Korea's creative industries.