Issue Focus

In a recent session of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Representative Jeong Yeon-wook expressed serious concerns about the current void in copyright standards for AI-generated cover songs. These AI cover songs are widely circulated on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, yet there is no established system for managing their copyrights effectively.
Jeong pointed out the risks of rapid online distribution of music and video content created with AI, which can lead to copyright infringement in the absence of proper regulations. As an example, an unauthorized AI cover video of popular singer IU reached 3.5 million views, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue.
In response, Kang Seok-won from the Korea Copyright Commission mentioned that they are collaborating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to address these challenges. An 'AI Copyright System Improvement Working Group' has been formed, comprising creators, AI developers, and industry stakeholders, to work on developing practical copyright solutions that balance the rights of creators with the growth of AI technologies.