Charlotte Theater Introduces AI Performance Subtitle Glasses!

Charlotte Theater, a musical-exclusive theater in South Korea, announced on the 12th that it will be the first large theater in the country to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-based subtitle glasses rental service.

The newly introduced subtitle glasses are an innovative device that utilizes AI technology to recognize the actors' lines in real-time during performances and project them directly onto the glasses' lenses as multilingual subtitles. For example, if the original team performs in English, wearing glasses set to Korean will provide real-time Korean subtitles through AI translation.

Charlotte Theater implemented this service in collaboration with Expert INC, a smart glasses specialist. This is the first time subtitle glasses will be commercialized for general audiences in a large theater.

Previously, subtitles for foreign language lines were provided on a separate screen next to the stage, but the new subtitle glasses system is expected to minimize audience distraction. Viewers will be able to perceive both the stage and the subtitles simultaneously, significantly enhancing their immersion in the performance.

This service is expected to provide a more convenient viewing environment not only for foreign audiences but also for hearing-impaired individuals. The subtitle glasses rental service will begin with the musical 〈Kinky Boots〉 opening on the 17th of next month.

Yoon Se-in, head of the live business team at Lotte Culture Works, stated, "Since musicals are a genre where the sense of presence is most important, we introduced subtitle glasses to create an environment where everyone can immerse themselves equally. This will be a meaningful attempt to allow more audiences to enjoy the performance freely."