[Culture&] "Byun Woo-seok and Jung Hae-in are also singers"… Rush to join 'this place' after OST success

Actors Byun Woo-seok, Jung Hae-in, and Shin Hyun-joon have found their rights as 'singers'. The Korean Music Performance Association (hereinafter referred to as the KMPA) announced on the 4th that these famous actors, among others, have recently joined as new members and have been officially recognized as music performers.

The recent influx of actors into the KMPA is closely related to changes in the K-content market. A representative from the KMPA explained, "As the original soundtracks (OSTs) of dramas and movies spread worldwide through global OTTs like Netflix, the rights of actors who sing songs in the works have become more important than ever." This suggests that 'actor's songs', which were once considered an extension of acting, have now established themselves as independent music content.

A representative case is Byun Woo-seok. He sang the OST in the drama 'Jumping with Seon-jae', which gained a syndrome-level popularity last year, playing the top star Ryu Seon-jae. His song hit the top ranks of major music charts, proving his impact comparable to that of a singer. Shin Hyun-joon also showed his musical endeavors last year by releasing 'Embracing You 2025' with his colleague Jung Joon-ho.

In addition to these, many actors such as Choo Young-woo, Lee Sun-bin, Kim Min-seok, and Shin Sia have joined the KMPA as a result of their singing in various works. This reflects the recent trend of blurring the lines between acting and singing.

Kim Seung-min, Executive Director of the KMPA, emphasized, "The global success of K-content is elevating the influence of OSTs. Now, an actor's song is not just a simple fan service but a realm of rights that must be legally protected. The expansion of the KMPA's membership spectrum is evidence of this change in the industry environment."

Through this membership, actors will regularly receive copyright royalties and broadcasting compensation for the OSTs, insert songs, and theme songs they participated in. This opens the way for them to receive fair compensation for their creations without the hassle of individual management.