In an unprecedented display of industry-wide solidarity, South Korea’s music sector has launched a united front to safeguard its creative future against the accelerating threat of artificial intelligence exploitation, with a newly formed coalition aiming to establish a blockchain-based system to track music creation and distribution before AI’s commercial integration becomes irreversible. The K-Music Rights Organization Mutual Growth Committee, comprising six prominent music rights organizations, declared that the upcoming 24 months will be pivotal in determining the survival of Korean creators in the face of the AI revolution.
"The next two years are the golden time that will decide the life or death of Korea’s music industry," stated committee chair Lee Si-ha during the coalition’s launch event in Seoul on February 26. "Individual responses from separate organizations can’t stop this massive wave of change. The entire industry must stand together." This collective action underscores a growing concern across the global music landscape, where AI’s capabilities in generating music, mimicking voices, and creating derivative works raise profound questions about copyright, compensation, and artistic integrity.
The coalition’s formation signifies a critical juncture for the nation’s vibrant music ecosystem. Its members include the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), the Korea Music Content Association, the Korea Music Performers Federation, the Korea Recording Industry Association, the Korea Entertainment Producers Association, and the Together Music Copyright Association. This comprehensive representation ensures that virtually every stakeholder within Korea’s domestic music industry is aligned in its mission to address the challenges posed by AI.
At the heart of their strategy is the adoption of an "AI-Era Music Rights Declaration," which outlines three fundamental demands. Foremost is a strict prohibition on the use of copyrighted music for AI training without explicit creator consent. Secondly, the declaration calls for mandatory transparency in all AI-generated music production processes, ensuring that the origins and methods of creation are clearly disclosed. Finally, it insists on clear legal distinctions between human-created and AI-generated musical works, establishing a framework for accountability and proper attribution.
South Korea has already grappled with the tangible impacts of AI on its music industry. A landmark case emerged in July 2022 when KOMCA discovered that the popular trot song "Love Is 24 Hours," attributed to singer Hong Jin-young, was in fact composed by an AI program named EvoM, developed by GIST professor Ahn Chang-wook. EvoM had reportedly generated an astonishing 300,000 compositions over six years, selling 30,000 tracks and generating approximately 600 million Korean won (around $450,000 USD) in revenue.
The legal implications of this discovery were immediate and stark. Under Korea’s existing Copyright Act, creative works are defined as "creations expressing human thoughts or emotions." This definition leaves no room for AI as a legal author, meaning that if AI is deemed the creator, there is no legal basis for royalty payments. This controversy served as a critical flashpoint, exposing a significant legal gap: AI was already producing music consumed by millions, but the legal framework had not yet evolved to address this new reality.
The core issue fueling this debate is the methodology of generative AI. These sophisticated systems learn by analyzing vast datasets of existing music, often without securing permission from the original rights holders. This process can lead to AI-generated works that inadvertently mimic or replicate established melodies, styles, and sonic textures, raising concerns about plagiarism and the dilution of original artistic expression.
Compounding the problem is another significant legal deficiency: under current Korean law, an individual’s voice itself is not recognized as a copyrightable work. This legal ambiguity leaves performers vulnerable, as AI cover creators can illegally clone the voices of famous K-pop idols. Existing performer rights protections are often insufficient to effectively combat the proliferation of unauthorized AI-generated content, particularly on platforms like YouTube, where AI cover songs have become a prevalent phenomenon.
The global prominence of K-pop has, paradoxically, made its artists prime targets for AI-driven exploitation. A 2023 Security Hero report highlighted the alarming statistic that Korean singers and actresses constitute 53% of individuals featured in deepfake pornographic content worldwide, with eight of the top ten individual targets being Korean female singers. This misuse of AI technology not only infringes on artistic rights but also poses a severe threat to personal reputation and safety.
The advanced state of voice synthesis technology has reached a point where fans report being unable to distinguish between authentic performances and AI-generated covers. This blurring of lines between human and artificial creation poses a significant challenge to the perceived authenticity and value of music.
In response to these escalating concerns, major South Korean entertainment companies are taking proactive measures. HYBE, the agency behind the global phenomenon BTS, has acquired the AI voice startup Supertone for 45 billion won (approximately $33 million USD), securing a 56.1 percent controlling stake. This strategic move signals a clear intention by leading entertainment firms to internalize and develop AI voice technology capabilities rather than solely relying on regulatory frameworks to catch up.
Globally, the music industry’s approach to AI has begun to shift from initial litigation to a more pragmatic focus on negotiation and licensing. In June 2024, the three major record labels – Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music – jointly filed lawsuits against AI music startups Udio and Suno, alleging that their models were trained on copyrighted recordings without authorization. Throughout late 2025, these major labels have pursued varied settlements and licensing agreements with AI platforms, indicating a broader industry trend toward establishing structured commercial relationships with AI companies. This evolution suggests that major labels view coexistence with AI as an inevitability, and the legal precedents are still being established.
KOMCA has demonstrated a notably swift response compared to many of its international counterparts. As of March 24, 2025, all new music registrations submitted to KOMCA now require a signed declaration attesting that "AI was not used and the work consists solely of human creative contributions." Submitting false statements carries significant consequences, including potential legal liability, freezing of royalty payments, and removal of works from the association’s database.
This policy, however, does not constitute an outright ban on all AI involvement in music creation. KOMCA’s official stance is that works created "100 percent by AI" are ineligible for registration. Nevertheless, if AI has been utilized as an assistive tool and the human creator’s core contribution remains evident, copyright protection may still be granted. This nuanced approach aligns with guidance from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which noted in a 2024 report that "AI-centric creations are difficult to protect under current copyright frameworks."
The newly established K-Music Rights Organization Mutual Growth Committee plans to develop and implement a blockchain-based unified infrastructure. This system is designed to meticulously track AI-generated and distributed music data. Its objective is to create immutable, auditable records by linking international standard identification codes for musical works and sound recordings with the content identification systems employed by major digital platforms. This integrated data structure aims to enhance transparency in copyright tracking and provide clear audit trails for AI training pathways, offering a verifiable record of how AI models are developed and utilized.
The crucial question that remains is whether regulatory frameworks can keep pace with the relentless advancement of technological innovation. South Korea’s experience with the EvoM case underscores the significant costs associated with legal lacunae in the digital age. KOMCA’s proactive policy implementation and the solidarity committee’s formation position Korea at the forefront of global efforts to govern AI in the music industry.
However, persistent structural gaps continue to challenge the industry. These include inadequate legal protections for vocal identity, unresolved standards for determining copyright eligibility of AI-generated works, and limited enforcement mechanisms against platforms that host unauthorized AI covers.
The efficacy of this industry-wide coalition in translating declarations into tangible institutional reforms and robust technical defenses will become evident in the coming two years. The countdown to navigating this complex future has officially begun.
