SK Telecom Restores Footage and Audio from 1945 Liberation in South Korea

South Korea’s SK Telecom Co. has successfully restored footage and audio from the time of the country’s liberation in 1945, allowing modern audiences to experience the emotional moment of freedom. The telecommunications company announced on Wednesday that it utilized its artificial intelligence (AI) technology to carry out the “815 Remastering” project, which aimed to restore scenes from the period immediately after liberation.

The project, launched in commemoration of the 79th Liberation Day, involved the restoration of original content, including footage of Seoul streets after the country’s liberation and a recording of the Korean national anthem from 1942. The newly produced 815 Remastering video, which combines the enhanced versions of these two pieces of content, can now be viewed on SK Telecom’s official YouTube channel.

The restored footage consists of a 28-second clip captured on August 16, 1945, showcasing the streets of Seoul filled with jubilant crowds celebrating the day after liberation. It captures the moment when numerous individuals, initially unaware of the liberation on August 15, poured into the streets on the 16th. SK Telecom employed its AI media enhancement solution, Supernova, to convert low-quality footage into high-quality video.

Additionally, the company worked on improving the audio of what is believed to be the oldest surviving recording of the Korean national anthem. This recording, included in an album produced and distributed by the Korean National Association on August 29, 1942, aimed to strengthen the resolve for independence on National Humiliation Day. The original recording is currently housed in the Independence Hall of Korea. SK Telecom successfully removed background noise and restored the vocal track.

In the future, SK Telecom plans to display the enhanced content at the Independence Hall of Korea, allowing visitors to witness the historical significance of the liberation period. The restoration project showcases the company’s commitment to preserving and sharing important moments from South Korea’s history.

Seung-Woo Lee, a representative of SK Telecom, expressed the company’s pride in utilizing AI technology to restore and revitalize significant historical footage and audio. The project not only allows modern audiences to connect with the emotions of the past but also contributes to the preservation of South Korea’s cultural heritage.

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