AI‑generated music enters Korean charts as industry scrambles to set rules

Seoul, September 22 — A music track created with artificial intelligence has managed to enter Korea's Melon Top 100 chart, revealing a growing discrepancy in regulations across the country's music sector as authorities grapple with how to define creatorship and payment structures for AI-generated compositions. In May, YouTube user Joseon HipHop released "Forest of the Heart," which reached No. 89 on Melon's weekly rankings after gaining popularity among listeners in their 40s.

The creator penned the lyrics and utilized the generative AI platform Suno to craft both the melody and vocals. Despite the song's subsequent removal from the charts, the brief chart presence underscored the reality that AI-assisted music is already infiltrating mainstream audiences despite a lack of established guidelines. The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) briefly authorized registration of AI-assisted works in August, provided there was human involvement in creating lyrics, composition, or arrangement.

However, these rules were dropped after just 22 days due to public backlash and a request from the Culture Ministry for further deliberation. Registrations during this period were subsequently canceled, leaving creators without clear guidance on the minimum level of human contribution needed to secure royalties. Detecting AI involvement in music remains another hurdle.

KOMCA and industry groups are in the process of selecting a provider for an AI-music detection system, although existing tools are not yet effective at identifying tracks where AI contributed only partially. Industry experts caution that the rapid increase in AI-generated songs is already causing disruptions in distribution systems and argue that Korea needs to act swiftly to set standards.

Other regions, such as the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, have developed clearer regulations that mandate identifiable human authorship. Meanwhile, major global labels are transitioning towards licensing AI training data, even while legal disputes continue. KOMCA states that it is collaborating with lawmakers, creators, and industry representatives to create legal and institutional frameworks.

With AI-assisted songs already charting successfully, the pressing question now is whether Korea's regulations can keep pace with the technological advancements.