Korea Music Copyright Association

KOMCA (Korea Music Copyright Association) is South Korea's largest music copyright collective management organization, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. It represents over 60,000 members including songwriters, composers, arrangers, and music publishers, managing approximately 8.4 million musical works. KOMCA administers public performance, broadcasting, transmission, reproduction, and synchronization rights under Korea's Copyright Act.

How KOMCA Works

KOMCA issues licenses to radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, karaoke establishments, live concert venues, restaurants, bars, gyms, and any business that uses music publicly in South Korea. License fees are collected and distributed to rights holders based on usage data from broadcast logs, streaming reports, karaoke performance data, and live concert set lists.

KOMCA distributes royalties quarterly. The organization tracks usage across multiple categories including broadcasting (radio and TV), transmission (streaming and digital), audio discs, live performances, karaoke, background music, and overseas income. Each category has its own distribution methodology based on the type of usage data available.

In 2025, KOMCA collected 445.3 billion KRW (approximately 327 million USD) in royalties and distributed 403.1 billion KRW (approximately 296 million USD) to rights holders. This marked the first time distributions exceeded 400 billion KRW, entering what KOMCA calls the "400 billion KRW era." Collections grew from 287.6 billion KRW in 2021 to 445.3 billion KRW in 2025, a 55% increase over four years.

By sector in 2025, transmission fees (streaming and digital) were the largest revenue source at 202.8 billion KRW. Audio disc royalties reached 80.9 billion KRW. Live stage performance royalties totaled 21.8 billion KRW. Overseas income reached 47.8 billion KRW. Broadcasting royalties included 17 billion KRW from cable broadcasting and 12.9 billion KRW from IPTV.

KOMCA's membership surpassed 60,000 in November 2025, a milestone commemorated with a creative support grant ceremony. Membership has grown rapidly: 40,000 in April 2021, 50,000 in September 2023, and 60,000 in November 2025. The organization has 983 full members, 45,087 associate members, and 14,314 trust contract holders as of December 2025. Music publishers number 392.

KOMCA hosted the CISAC General Assembly in Seoul in 2024, strengthening its international profile. The organization has expanded foreign language education for staff and advanced its overseas collection systems. Chair Cho Ga-yeol (also known as Chu Ga-yeol) led the organization through its 60,000-member milestone and the 400 billion KRW distribution era.

KOMCA's annual Copyright Awards recognize the highest royalty earners in each category. Producer Beomjoo won the grand prize in the popular lyrics and composition category for three consecutive years from 2024 to 2026.

Real-World Example

A K-pop songwriter registers 30 songs with KOMCA. A Korean streaming platform like Melon reports 5 million streams, a cable music channel broadcasts 10 of the songs in rotation, and a concert at Gocheok Sky Dome features 8 of the songs in its set list. Karaoke establishments across Seoul also add 5 of the songs to their catalogs.

KOMCA collects royalties from all these sources. Streaming royalties (the largest category at 202.8 billion KRW across all distributions) are allocated based on stream counts. Broadcasting royalties are allocated based on airplay logs. Live performance royalties are allocated based on set lists. Karaoke royalties are allocated based on performance data from karaoke establishments.

If the same songs are played on streaming platforms in Japan, KOMCA's reciprocal agreement with JASRAC means JASRAC collects those royalties and remits them to KOMCA, which distributes them to the songwriter. Overseas income reached 47.8 billion KRW in 2025, reflecting the global popularity of K-pop.

With 403.1 billion KRW distributed in 2025, a K-pop songwriter with 30 songs receiving significant streaming activity and regular broadcast exposure might earn anywhere from 10 million KRW to 500 million KRW or more annually, depending on the scale of usage and their registered share of the works. Top earners like Beomjoo receive significantly more.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Korean songwriter, composer, arranger, or publisher, KOMCA is your primary domestic option for collecting music royalties. While other organizations like the Korea Music Performance Association (KMPA) also operate in Korea, KOMCA is the largest with over 60,000 members and 8.4 million works under management.

Register every composition with KOMCA before commercial release. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they accumulate millions of streams on Melon, Genie, or Spotify Korea. Submit accurate metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets. KOMCA's distribution system processes billions of performances annually, so accurate metadata directly impacts how quickly and completely you get paid.

South Korea has one of the world's most advanced digital music markets. Streaming and transmission fees account for the largest share of KOMCA collections (202.8 billion KRW in 2025). If your music is on Korean streaming platforms, ensure your works are registered so streaming royalties are captured.

KOMCA's overseas income reached 47.8 billion KRW in 2025, driven by the global spread of K-pop. If your music is played internationally, KOMCA's CISAC membership and reciprocal agreements mean those royalties flow back to you. The organization is actively improving its overseas collection systems to capture more international revenue for Korean creators.

KOMCA's rapid membership growth (from 40,000 to 60,000 in four years) reflects the expanding Korean music industry. Join the organization to participate in copyright policy discussions, access the KOMCA Copyright Awards, and benefit from the organization's advocacy for fair streaming royalties.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by KOMCA
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• KOMCA Official Website - Visit KOMCA for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings