As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the global music ecosystem, South Korea has taken a decisive step toward defining where human artistry ends and machine generation begins. The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), the nation’s largest music copyright collective, has officially implemented South Korea’s first formal framework governing AI-assisted musical works.
First coming into effect on Aug. 3, this policy revision marks a major turning point: it recognizes AI within defined institutional boundaries while establishing strict safeguards for human creators, positioning KOMCA among the first music copyright organizations to establish a formal AI registration framework.
Under the new rules, musical compositions qualify for copyright registration only when a human creator plays a “substantial and leading role” in creative processes, such as writing lyrics, composing melodies, or arranging, using AI strictly as a supportive tool. This policy replaces an earlier rule in effect since March 2025 that disqualified works from registration or royalty collection if even minimal AI assistance was detected.
The shift follows a March 2026 audit by South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection. In a sample of 8,540 songs registered by 29 prominent writers, the agency found that 60.9% (roughly 5,200 tracks) were likely created with AI assistance, highlighting that a total ban had become unworkable in modern production workflows.
To enforce these standards without compromising integrity, KOMCA has instituted a multi-layered verification system:
- Detailed disclosure: When registering a work, creators must fully disclose and certify their use of AI, including the specific tools used and the precise scope of their application.
- Post-registration audits: If suspected non-compliance arises after registration, KOMCA reserves the right to request evidentiary proof, run technical verifications, and conduct internal reviews.
- Financial and contractual penalties: Registering an entirely AI-generated track as a human composition triggers immediate administrative action — including the withholding of royalties, clawbacks of unearned distributions, and potential termination of the creator’s trust agreement.
- Liquidated damages: KOMCA is amending its terms to allow penalty claims of up to three times the improperly collected royalties in cases of intentional fraud or gross negligence.
The policy reflects an objective repeatedly emphasized by KOMCA chairman Lee Si-ha: fostering coexistence between technological adoption and creator rights. “This revision is an initial step toward managing an evolving creative landscape within a formal institutional framework,” Lee Si-ha said. “We are building a trustworthy system to ensure that creators who put in honest sweat and labor are never disadvantaged.”
By moving from total prohibition to structured accountability, KOMCA has drawn a clear line for the industry: AI may assist the creative process, but legal protections and royalty distributions remain reserved for works driven by human creativity. Moving forward, the copyright collective will actively gather feedback from the K-pop industry and track AI tech trends to regularly refine its verification process.
