The Korea Music Copyright Association (chairman Choo Ga-yeol, hereafter KMCA) surpassed 60,000 members.
KMCA commemorated this on the 2nd by presenting a creative support grant to Song Hye-kyo, who joined as the 60,000th member, marking a new milestone in protecting creators' rights.
Founded in 1964, KMCA celebrated its 61st anniversary this year. KMCA surpassed 40,000 members on April 2021 and 50,000 members on September 2023, and welcomed its 60,000th member around November 2025. This is seen as the result of rapid increases in trust membership and interest in protecting creators' rights as the digital-based music industry grew and K-pop expanded globally.
At a commemorative ceremony held on the 2nd at KMCA headquarters in Gangseo District, Seoul, chairman Choo Ga-yeol personally presented a creative support grant of 1 million won to the 60,000th member, Song Hye-kyo. Song Hye-kyo said she was pleased to become a member of KMCA, which has consistently worked to protect the rights of music creators, and said she would do her best to move people through good music.
Chairman Choo Ga-yeol said, "Until Korean music established itself as a global culture, there was the sweat and passion of countless musicians who silently devoted themselves to creation from their obscure early days to now," and added, "The figure of 60,000 is more than a simple membership count; it represents 60,000 voices that deliver emotion and comfort to our society." He added, "KMCA will do its best to improve collection systems, ensure transparent distribution and expand welfare so that all members can work in a more stable creative environment."
Meanwhile, KMCA collected 436.5 billion won in royalties last year, achieving for the first time since its founding the distribution of more than 400 billion won. KMCA currently manages approximately 8.4 million domestic and international works in trust, showing that the scale of KMCA's trust management and its international copyright management capabilities have steadily expanded.
Based on these achievements, KMCA plans to continue strengthening policies to protect creators' rights in step with changes in the digital environment and to pursue various efforts to create a fair and transparent copyright ecosystem.
[Photo] Provided by KMCA
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