South Korea’s KOMCA ends ban on AI-assisted songs – false filings now risk royalty holds and contract termination
South Korea's largest music copyright body, KOMCA (Korean Music Copyright Association), has reversed its ban on registering AI-assisted songs, ending a rule in place since March 2025 that required works to be "100% human-made" to qualify for registration and royalties. Under new rules effective 3 August 2026, songs created with AI assistance can now be registered and earn royalties, provided a human made a "substantial and leading" creative contribution, with strict penalties introduced for false declarations. The change matters because it reshapes how one of the world's major music markets treats AI in songwriting, moving from outright exclusion to a disclosure-based system.
Creators must now declare which parts of a track involved AI, name the specific tools used, and describe their own creative input, while confirming the work was not generated purely from a prompt. KOMCA recommends keeping evidence such as DAW project files, revision histories and prompt logs, and can request this material or refer works to a review panel. False filings can trigger royalty holds, clawbacks and contract termination, with penalties of up to three times any wrongly received amount planned for cases of intent or gross negligence. The reversal follows a March 2026 government audit finding that 60.9% of sampled songs from prolific writers were likely AI-assisted, exposing gaps in the old self-certification system; the new stance broadly mirrors the US Copyright Office's position that AI can assist but not author a work.
In short
- KOMCA now allows AI-assisted songs if a human contributed substantially
- False AI-use declarations risk royalty clawbacks and contract termination
- Change follows audit finding 60.9% of sampled songs were AI-assisted
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
AI tools are legitimate creative instruments, like synthesizers or production software were before them. A blanket ban stifles innovation and doesn't reflect how modern music is created. A transparent disclosure system allows human creativity to flourish whilst maintaining accountability through penalties for false claims. What matters is human creative choice and direction, not the specific tools used.
The case against
Copyright law exists to protect and reward distinctly human creativity and cultural expression. Allowing AI-assisted works risks blurring the line between human authorship and algorithmic output, potentially devaluing human artists' work and undermining copyright's core purpose. The disclosure system relies on creators' self-reporting with financial incentives to minimise AI involvement, making enforcement difficult. Even harsh penalties cannot fully prevent gaming the system or undo harm to copyright's integrity.
Explained simply
KOMCA is South Korea’s largest music copyright body. It registers songs and collects royalties for the people who hold rights in them, such as songwriters and composers. Its rules therefore affect how creators can earn money from music in South Korea.
AI tools can help with tasks such as generating lyrics or melodies, but copyright systems distinguish assistance from authorship. The key question is whether a person made a substantial creative contribution, rather than producing a track from a prompt alone. Similar debates are taking place in other countries, including the United States.
The change follows a government audit that found many sampled songs by prolific writers were likely made with AI assistance, raising questions about how reliably creators had been declaring their methods. Requiring details of AI use and human input gives KOMCA a way to assess those claims, while consequences for false filings can affect creators’ royalties and contracts.
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