Popular Actress Sells Her Portraight Rights To AI, Sparks Debate

With the recent rise in AI use, it seems we are entering an era where celebrities might no longer need to go through a lengthy process of filming advertisements to earn money.

An online community post went viral after news of actress Kim Hee Ae‘s recent contract regarding her AI portrait rights.

For the particular cosmetic ad, she didn’t actually film it herself. Instead, she signed an AI portrait rights agreement, and the ad was created using AI.

이제 연예인들도 직접 광고 힘들게
안찍고 돈버는 시대가 올듯

이번에 김희애 배우가 ai초상권 계약을 맺고 자신의 얼굴로 만든 광고를 공개 ㄷㄷ pic.twitter.com/JKkCba0PPd

— 김티거 (@tiggerkim86) November 4, 2026

However, this sparked debate online, garnering a divided response from netizens.

연예인 개꿀이네

— ❝순대렐라❞ (@thesundaerella) November 5, 2026

Everything is so easy for celebrities.

와 이제 연예인들도 ai 초상권 계약 맺고 광고 진행하는구나…

이렇게 되면 페이는 어떻게 진행될 지는 모르겠지만 새로운 변화의 바람이 불어올듯여?

— Purple dragon (@myway10041004) November 5, 2026

So celebrities are now just signing contracts for their AI portrait rights? I don’t know how payment will work for this, but I guess this is the start of something new?

곧 초상권이 얼마나 소중한 권리인지 알게 될 순간이 머지 않아 올 것.

— 허리케인그레이 (@setagoal12) November 5, 2026

The moment you realize how precious portrait rights are is not far away.

영원히 안늙고 돈벌겠다는 속셈이군
이렇게 되면 김희애는 더이상 공개석상에 나타나기 힘듬 ai 영상이랑 실제 본인이랑 다르면 본인이 스스로 무덤파게됨

— 해피 Virus 💉 (@life_savior99) November 5, 2026

So basically, this means they will make money while being young forever. If this happens, then it will be harder for her to appear at public events. The AI-generated videos will make her look different from reality, so she’s digging her own grave with this one.