[2026 Audit] Lee Siha: "We Can Change How Copyright Royalties Are Distributed to Arrangers"

"Music production methods have changed... a new agreement is needed"

Jo Jungchi speaks after appearing as a witness at the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit on the 7th. Yonhap News.

Lee Siha, chairman of the Korean Music Copyright Association, said the association could change how copyright royalties are distributed to arrangers. He said the way music is produced has changed, making it necessary to revisit arrangers' share.

On October 7, during the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lee responded to a question from Lee Jeongmun, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party of Korea, who raised the issue of arrangers not receiving royalties. "I believe the rules can certainly be changed," he said, adding, "As soon as I took office, I began holding public hearings with arrangers."

Jo Jungchi, who appeared as a witness that day, said he receives no copyright royalties when music he arranged is played at karaoke venues. After playing the intro to a song arranged by Jo, Lee asked, "This song is also played at karaoke venues. How much in music copyright royalties have you received for it?" Jo replied, "I haven't received anything at all."

 

Jeong Gyeongcheon, who previously produced backing-track music at the request of a karaoke company, was asked by Lee, "When you made the backing track, did you use the original song's arrangement as it was?" He replied, "I used the original arrangement as it was." Lee pressed the issue, asking, "Why are arrangers not paid royalties even when their arrangements are clearly being used?" and "Why are arrangements held to a different standard?"

Under the Korean Music Copyright Association's current distribution rules, when a lyricist, composer and arranger are all registered, royalties are divided in a 5:5:2 ratio. However, arrangers are eligible for a share only when their arrangement is actually used. The association has sometimes withheld royalties from arrangers in the performance and reproduction categories, citing difficulties in verifying whether registered original arrangements were used as they were in karaoke backing tracks or performances.

The issue was also addressed in parliamentary audits and in court in 2021. At the time, concerns were raised that arrangers were not receiving their proper copyright royalties for use in karaoke rooms and backing tracks, as well as for the reproduction of recordings and stage performances. Since 2006, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also repeatedly called on the Korean Music Copyright Association to improve how royalties are distributed to arrangers.

Lee explained that the current distribution system was established through an agreement among musicians in the past. "The current system was agreed upon by musicians," he said, adding that increasing arrangers' share would require an agreement among lyricists, composers and arrangers.

He also said discussions were underway to expand arrangers' rights. When Lee asked, "Will you ensure that arrangers receive their proper share going forward?" the chairman replied, "Of course, that's what we're doing," adding, "This is an issue that requires an agreement among composers, lyricists and arrangers."

Ko Taeyoung, an arranger who appeared as a witness, also called for improvements to the current system. "Arrangers spend a long time creating sounds through arrangements that don't exist anywhere else in the world," he said. "We're freelancers with no severance pay and no coverage under the four major social insurance programs. All we have left is copyright and the songs we've worked on." He went on to say that even though his arrangements continue to be used, he receives no compensation for them.

Lee also cited changes in the way music is produced as a reason to improve the system. "The nature of music has changed. We are no longer in an era when composing and arranging are separate, as they were in the past," he said, adding, "I believe this is a challenge for our generation." He also called for a forum where arrangers, lyricists and composers could take part in discussions together.

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