Lee Siha of The Cross Inaugurated as 25th Chairman of the Korea Music Copyright Association

Inauguration on the 25th
"Focusing on Increasing Creators' Actual Income"

Lee Siha, Chairman of the Korea Music Copyright Association. Provided by the Korea Music Copyright Association.

Lee Siha of The Cross took office on the 25th as the 25th Chairman of the Korea Music Copyright Association.

Chairman Lee stated through the association on this day, "During my four-year term, I will shift the association's operational direction to a creator-centered approach."

In his inaugural address, Chairman Lee presented four major challenges facing the association. First, rather than focusing on external competition such as expanding the overall collection volume, he will concentrate on increasing the actual income of Korean music authors. The aim is to raise the actual amount received by creators and thereby improve their quality of life.

Establishing a mutually beneficial structure in response to the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is also a key task. Chairman Lee explained that he does not define AI solely as a crisis, and that he will institutionalize a fair compensation system to create an order in which creators and technology can coexist.

He plans to double the amount of copyright royalties flowing in from overseas compared to the current level. The association will strengthen its global collection network and overhaul its rights protection system to reinforce the reverse inflow structure of K-pop royalties. It will also redesign a tangible welfare system so that creators can work in a stable environment.

Chairman Lee stressed, "We will not be an association that only grows numbers, but an association that changes the lives of creators," adding, "Within four years, we will prove this through results."

Chairman Lee worked with vocalist Kim Hyukgun as part of the group The Cross and produced hit songs such as "Don't Cry" and "For You," and he also served as a professor at the Graduate School of Industry at Sejong University. He plans to suspend his music activities for the next four years and focus all his capabilities solely on running the association.