"Kang Dongwon, Oh Jungse, and Other 'Wild Thing' Actors Join Korea Music Performers Association"

"Actors' Songs Recognized as Independent Content"

Movie 'Wild Thing' Cast. Lotte Entertainment

The Korea Music Performers Association announced on June 11 that actors Kang Dongwon, Um Taegoo, Park Jihyun, and Oh Jungse, who appeared in the recently released movie 'Wild Thing,' have joined as members.

The association stated, "Recently, there has been a steady increase in inquiries and new memberships from actors," adding, "As actors broaden their activities beyond acting to include singing in their roles or releasing music, they are seeking to assert their rights as performers." This trend is the result of actors' growing participation in original soundtracks (OSTs) and the expansion of online video services (OTT), leading to an increase in their musical activities.

The group membership of the 'Wild Thing' cast is a representative example. The movie tells the story of a dance group aiming for a comeback 20 years after disbandment. Kang Dongwon, Um Taegoo, and Park Jihyun appear as group members in the film, while Oh Jungse plays a ballad singer and performed songs himself. The release of music and music videos during the production process also attracted public attention.

The association regards actors' musical activities in productions as independent content in their own right. When an actor participates in singing or music production, they are protected by neighboring rights in broadcasting, transmission, and reproduction.

Kim Seungmin, Executive Director of the association, said, "Musical activities in films or dramas have established themselves as a distinct field of performance beyond a mere extension of acting. We will continue to enhance the rights protection system so that actors, comedians, and creators in popular culture receive fair compensation in a changing content environment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.