Issue Focus

In the previous year, Korea amassed roughly 416.5 billion won in music copyright royalties, securing the ninth spot on the global stage. As reported in the "2024 Global Collection Report" by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, Korean music copyright organizations gathered about 279 million euros in 2023. This represents a notable 9.6% growth compared to the year before.
The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) alone generated around 406.5 billion won, largely driven by a 46% surge in reproduction fees linked to album sales and other venues. Furthermore, performance fees increased by 22%, reaching 50.7 billion won, fueled by the resurgence of live performances and concert tours in the post-pandemic era.
However, despite these advancements, KOMCA acknowledged the necessity for improvements in royalty collection efficiency relative to Korea's GDP, where the country is positioned 33rd globally. KOMCA Chairman Chu Ga-yeol stressed the significance of elevating Korea's music copyright royalties to meet global benchmarks, ensuring the sustained expansion and dynamism of the K-pop industry.