The Seongnam Cultural Foundation case that implemented QR-based AI Avatar guidance beyond stations

About

The cultural foundation runs a variety of performances, exhibitions, and cultural programs, but the existing guidance methods often relied on static postings or on-site staff, which limited access to information. In particular, repeated inquiries about performance schedules, facility usage, and program recommendations—questions that vary depending on individual interests—also increased the workload of the guidance staff.

To improve this, a Perso Interactive Station was installed at the Seongnam Cultural Foundation so that visitors could naturally converse with an AI Avatar and instantly receive guidance on performance schedules, exhibition information, how to use the facilities, and personalized recommendations for cultural programs. As a result, limitations of on-site guidance were reduced, the visitor information-search experience became more intuitive, and it was established as a new guidance method applicable in cultural facilities and festival environments. At the Seongnam Festival site, a service is also operated in which an AI Avatar appears when a QR code is scanned to guide the festival, and from the cultural foundation lobby's always-on operation to outdoor festival sites, it has become a smart cultural guidance service that enhances visitor convenience in a variety of environments.

Background

The Seongnam Cultural Foundation operates a wide range of programs, including performances, exhibitions, and cultural education, and is a cultural space visited by many citizens. At the cultural foundation and at event sites, various programs and space information must be provided to visitors, but the existing approach was centered on guideboards or staff inquiries, which often caused inconvenience during the information-search process.

Especially in environments such as outdoor festivals, where the space is large and foot traffic is heavy, it is difficult to provide consistent guidance to every visitor, and confusion in movement could occur because people could not find the information they needed right away. Another limitation was that, although each visitor had different content interests, it was difficult to provide personalized guidance that reflected those differences.

To solve these issues, we needed an extensible interactive guidance method that could provide the same guidance experience not only through on-site kiosks but also through visitors' personal devices.

Solution

By installing a Perso Interactive Station in the Seongnam Cultural Foundation lobby, we created an environment where visitors could converse with an AI Avatar and instantly check the cultural information they needed. The AI Avatar provides voice guidance on performance schedules, exhibition information, and how to use the facilities, and when visitors ask natural-language questions about the cultural programs they want, it delivers tailored recommendations that match their interests and situation. For example, it naturally understands questions such as, 'What performances are there this month?' or 'Recommend a program that children can participate in,' and immediately provides suitable information.

In addition, at the Seongnam Festival site, scanning a QR code causes an AI Avatar to appear on the visitor's smartphone and guide festival schedules, programs, and movement routes, creating an environment in which anyone can conveniently receive festival guidance with just a smartphone. The AI Avatar not only provides the information needed according to visitors' questions, but also recommends programs that match their interests, delivering a personalized experience beyond simple guidance. Through this, we completed a flexible guidance system accessible anywhere on site, moving beyond fixed kiosk-based guidance.

Results

The Perso Interactive-based guidance service introduced at the Seongnam Cultural Foundation and festival site contributed to the natural establishment of a new way for visitors to search for information through conversations with an AI Avatar. As visitors were able to instantly check performance and exhibition information and program recommendations through the AI Avatar, repeated inquiries at the information desk decreased, and the workload of the guidance staff was also reduced. In particular, as QR-based mobile guidance was provided alongside the station, anyone could easily access the service regardless of the station's location, making it possible to provide a seamless guidance experience even in outdoor event environments.

Visitors went beyond simply checking information and actively explored content by receiving recommendations aligned with their interests, which helped enrich the event stay experience. The way the AI Avatar appeared instantly to guide the festival drew strong interest and positive responses from visitors, and it secured a meaningful reference demonstrating the potential of AI guidance services in a variety of environments, from the cultural foundation lobby to outdoor festival sites.

Recommended for

If you are a person in charge of operating cultural facilities such as cultural foundations, performance venues, or art museums; a local government or cultural organization staff member in charge of local festivals and events; or someone considering introducing a visitor-tailored cultural program guidance service, this case will be a valuable reference. In particular, it suggests an applicable direction for those who want to expand the visitor experience through a hybrid guidance system that combines kiosks and mobile devices, or who want to deliver both consistent guidance and personalized services at large-scale events.

FAQ

Q. Can it be deployed on-site immediately without installation or separate development?

A. Yes. Perso Interactive AI can be deployed on-site immediately without separate development or infrastructure setup. However, if additional information or customization is needed, we can proceed with the desired development through prior consultation. After development, the station (kiosk) device can be placed and operated on site right away.

Q. Can it operate stably outdoors like at a festival?

A. Yes. It can operate stably even in outdoor event environments like this case, and especially in this case, visitors could use their own devices, which further improved accessibility.

Q. How does the recommendation feature work?

A. It recommends suitable performances or programs based on visitors' questions and interests, providing a personalized guidance experience.