The Korea Music Copyright Association strengthens ESG management.

The Korea Music Copyright Association (hereinafter referred to as Hanumjeohyeob, President Chuga-yeol) recently announced on the 9th that it is establishing the 'ESG Management Committee' as part of strengthening its ESG management and will actively engage in various discussions to establish sustainable management and a fair copyright culture.

ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) management is a global management trend that emphasizes transparent decision-making and social responsibility, and Hanumjeohyeob plans to actively seek ways to coexist with users of music, as well as to protect the rights of creators through this new committee.

The committee will plan and deliberate on the core operational directions of Hanumjeohyeob, including future social contribution activities, strengthening internal controls, and improving systems. In particular, issues related to long-standing copyright disputes with the gym (fitness) industry will also be addressed as major agenda items.

Hanumjeohyeob is preparing a campaign plan that includes incentives such as exemptions from past fees, automatic transfer discounts, and certification of exemplary businesses, while also planning to strengthen its role as a communication channel with the government, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to ensure appropriate compensation for creators while easing the burden on the industry.

Through the establishment of this committee, Hanumjeohyeob is expected to move away from its existing image of unilateral collection and to build a fair and sustainable copyright environment based on mutual understanding with users.

The committee also plans to focus on establishing institutional mechanisms to enhance transparency and fairness. It will refer to internal control systems and transparency disclosure systems operated by other financial institutions and overseas copyright organizations, develop criteria that exceed legal standards, and discuss the reform of membership systems that have not changed for decades and the establishment of a rational decision-making structure.

Hanumjeohyeob has already taken steps to gradually establish a responsible management system by reducing management commission rates to the lowest levels in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), enhancing the monitoring functions of operational expenses, and budget execution by the president. Particularly, it has been pushing for significant innovations to enhance transparency in collection, distribution, and budget operations for about 10 years, and as a result, it was selected as an innovative management case by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).

Based on these achievements, it was first elected as a board organization of CISAC in 2019, where only 20 organizations worldwide could participate, and in 2022, it was re-elected and is currently participating directly in the process of establishing international copyright policies.

With the launch of this ESG Management Committee, Hanumjeohyeob plans to further solidify its commitment to transparent and responsible management.

President Chuga-yeol said, "Music copyright is a fundamental right that should return fair compensation to creators," and added, "Now is the time to create a sustainable culture together with users, going beyond mere collection. I hope the ESG Management Committee can propose balanced policies at the center of this and enhance the transparency and accountability of Hanumjeohyeob's operations."

cykim@osen.co.kr

[Photo] Provided by Hanumjeohyeob

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