Culture Ministry to Host Seoul Copyright Forum on Generative AI and Copyright

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that, together with the Korea Copyright Commission, it will hold the "2025 Seoul Copyright Forum" on June 16 at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, under the theme "Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Copyright." In response to the global interest in AI and copyright, the forum will also be broadcast live online via the Commission’s YouTube channel.

The Seoul Copyright Forum, now in its 18th year since its inception in 2008, will bring together government officials from countries that have adopted advanced AI-related laws and systems, as well as industry leaders at the forefront of AI. Participants will share the latest developments and discuss ways to strike a balance between industrial growth and copyright protection, exploring future directions for the field. In particular, the forum will focus on discussions around the protection of creators and fair compensation in the training and output processes of generative AI.

First, the forum will review the current status of copyright policy responses in the AI era from major countries, including Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the European Union (EU). Presentations will be given by Choi Youngjin, Director of the Copyright Policy Division at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Professor Tatsuhiro Ueno of Waseda University Law School in Japan; Gavin Foo, Director of the Copyright Division at the Legal Policy Department of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; and Yordanka Ivanova, Head of AI Law Implementation and Supervision at the AI Office of the European Commission.

Next, the forum will explore the future direction of AI and copyright from the perspectives of creators and the AI industry. Presenters include Ham Seokcheon, President of the Korean Society for Choreography Copyright; James Cheatley, Vice President of the Asia-Pacific branch of the Motion Picture Association (MPA); and Rachel Lee, Head of Economic and AI Policy for the Asia-Pacific region at Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Following the keynote presentations, Choi Seungjae, Professor of Law at Sejong University, will moderate a comprehensive discussion. All domestic and international speakers, along with the audience, will participate in practical discussions to find solutions to issues related to generative AI and copyright.

Anyone interested in the forum can find relevant information on the official website and participate in the live online broadcast through real-time comments.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also announced that, in connection with the Seoul Copyright Forum, it will host the "AI-Copyright Global Consultative Body" on June 17. The Ministry, the Commission, and major international speakers will engage in in-depth discussions.

Jung Hyangmi, Director-General of Copyright at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "At this forum, we will be able to examine the latest policy trends from major countries on the globally important issue of generative AI and copyright, and see what solutions are being proposed by the government, the AI industry, the copyright industry, and academia to balance AI industry development with copyright protection." She added, "In particular, the Ministry has operated the AI-Copyright System Improvement Consultative Body (Working Group) for three consecutive years, and based on the results of this forum, we will discuss in-depth solutions to copyright issues related to AI training and outputs."