The Cat-Loving King Sukjong and Geumson

Inspiration

I was inspired by a touching, true historical anecdote from the Joseon Dynasty in Korea. While King Sukjong is often remembered as a powerful and politically astute monarch, few know about his soft side—specifically his deep affection for his pet cat, "Geumson"

This story of a king who found solace in a stray cat transcends time and culture. As a cat lover myself, I wanted to bring this hidden historical gem to life using modern AI technology, showing that the bond between humans and pets has always been universal.

What it does

This short film visualizes the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of King Sukjong and Geumson. It depicts their first encounter, where the King rescues a stray cat, names it "Geumson" for its golden fur, and shares his daily life with it. The film captures the emotional depth of their relationship, showing how the cat stayed by the King's side even during his meals and official duties, and ultimately, the tragic but beautiful end where Geumson refuses to eat after the King's death and follows him. It is a digital restoration of a historical legend, reimagined through AI.

How we built it

Story & Script: I researched historical records (The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and Yi Ik's Seongho Saseol) to draft a script that stays true to the historical context while adding dramatic flair.

Video Generation (Veo3, Kling AI): I used Veo3 and Kling AI to generate the video clips. The biggest challenge was creating a consistent "Korean Historical Drama" (Sageuk) aesthetic and maintaining the specific look of the golden cat throughout the scenes. I put significant effort into the initial image generation phase to accurately implement Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and the palace architecture before animating them.

Editing (CapCut): I used CapCut to assemble the generated clips. I utilized CapCut's timeline to pace the emotional narrative, added background music, sound effects (meowing, ambient palace sounds), and subtitles to make the story accessible and engaging.

Challenges we ran into

Consistency in AI Video: Generating the same cat and the same King character across different shots was difficult. AI models often hallucinate different breeds or facial features. I had to regenerate scenes multiple times to ensure Geumson looked like the same golden cat in every frame.

Historical Accuracy: Getting AI to correctly render specific details of the Joseon Dynasty's royal attire and palace interiors required precise prompting and trial-and-error.

Emotional Expression: Conveying deep sorrow and affection through AI-generated faces is still a challenge. I had to select clips that best captured the subtle emotions of the King.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

People often associate AI video with futuristic sci-fi imagery. I wanted to break this stereotype and attempt to create a drama that stimulates deep, inner human emotions. I strove to implement delicate emotional lines rather than just flashy technology.

Seeing viewers comment that they were moved to tears by the bond between the King and his cat was incredibly rewarding. It proved that AI is not just for cool visuals, but a powerful tool for emotional storytelling. I'm also proud of how Geumson's "cuteness" bridged the gap between history and modern audiences.

What we learned

I learned a great deal about prompt engineering for cultural specificity—how to describe Korean traditional elements so that the AI understands them. I also learned the importance of sound design in CapCut; the visual is only half the story, and the right music and sound effects are what truly drive the emotion home.

What's next for The Cat-Loving King Sukjong and Geumson

I will not stop delivering these delicate emotional narratives to audiences through AI video. I intend to experiment with as much content as possible to keep pushing the boundaries of emotional AI storytelling.

Built With

• capcut
• klingai
• veo3