A sentence in a BBC news article stirred up the Korean music industry on July 11. The article, titled “Will K-Pop’s AI Experiments Pay Off?” highlighted the increasing use of AI in Korean music production, focusing on the group Seventeen.

The BBC noted that the music video for Seventeen’s new song “Maestro,” released in April, featured graphics seemingly generated by AI. It also suggested that AI might have been used in the songwriting process, citing member Woozi’s comments about “experimenting” with AI in music creation.

Following the BBC report, Seventeen quickly denied these claims. Woozi, the group’s member and a producer, said on his Instagram on July 14, “All of Seventeen’s music is written and composed by human creators.”

Fans of Seventeen expressed their frustration by copying Woozi’s message in the comments section of the “Maestro” music video.

After Pledis Entertainment requested a correction, the BBC removed the part of the article mentioning AI’s involvement in songwriting.

While the BBC’s report on Seventeen was resolved as a misunderstanding, it underscored the growing use of AI in content creation in the music industry.

AI-based music production programs are now readily available, allowing even amateurs to create songs and write lyrics easily.

However, this rise in AI-generated content has brought significant copyright concerns. Artists, composers and lyricists are increasingly worried about AI encroaching on their domain. Currently, there are no legal standards, making disputes inevitable.

According to the Korean Copyright Act, a work is defined as “a creative production that expresses human thoughts and emotions.”

For songs, copyright is granted if the sound recording is recognized as a work, and only then can it be registered with the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA). 스포츠 Registered songs can generate revenue from streaming.

Music created by AI is not recognized as a work since the creator is not “human.” For instance, in 2022, AI composer EvoM had six of its songs registered with KOMCA, but their copyright payments were later suspended when it was discovered that the compositions were AI-generated.

Since AI-created songs are not legally considered works, they are not protected from replication or plagiarism.

Movie theaters are emerging as a new venue for K-pop fans to enjoy performances by their favorite stars. This shift comes as more concert films are being released, filling the gap left by the underwhelming results of recently anticipated blockbusters.

K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN will be releasing the concert film “SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO CINEMAS” on Aug. 14, according to its agency Pledis Entertainment. The movie will follow the group’s two-day concert “SEVENTEEN TOUR ‘FOLLOW’ AGAIN TO SEOUL,” filmed on April 27 and 28 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, Seoul.

The film will show the 13-piece group’s first performance at one of the largest concert venues in Korea, performing songs from its latest album “17 IS RIGHT HERE,” including “MAESTRO,” “LALALI” and “Spell.” The performances are captured through 360-degree cameras and cinematic cameras to offer a full view of the stage.

The concert movie will also be screened in special effect theaters: ScreenX with a 270-degree panoramic screen, 4DX with motion seats and effects and ULTRA 4DX.

“As SEVENTEEN’s first concert at World Cup Stadium since their debut, the members proved their reputation as ‘masters of performance’ by connecting with about 70,000 audience members over the two days. Such heated atmosphere from the live concert will offer another level of immersion on screen,” the agency said in the release.

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is also set to release its concert film “BLACKPINK WORLD TOUR [BORN PINK] IN CINEMAS,” on July 31, celebrating the eighth anniversary of the group’s debut.

The movie will deliver the four-piece act’s powerful performances during the finale concert of its world tour “BORN PINK” at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, Seoul, in September 2023.

The group set a record as the K-pop girl group with the biggest-scale world tour, holding about 66 concerts in 34 different countries and drawing over 1.8 million fans to attend.

The film will also offer the footage from the group’s global tour, as well as the spectacles of its finale performance. It is scheduled to be released in theaters across 110 countries.

K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s first virtual reality (VR) concert film is also set to hit the theaters on July 31.

Titled “HYPERFOCUS: TOMORROW X TOGETHER VR CONCERT,” the movie will show the group performing its hit songs, such as “Sugar Rush Ride” and “Deja Vu” in a VR setting.

“As we contemplated how to more closely communicate with fans, we had the opportunity to participate in a new type of content, so we came to do this VR concert,” the group 한국을 said in the release. “Just as it was a unique experience for the members, we hope it will be a fantastic memory and experience for the fans as well.”

The film will be screened exclusively at Megabox COEX in Gangnam District, Seoul, and is scheduled to additionally open in five cities in the United States, including Houston, Chicago and New York, starting with Los Angeles on Aug. 8.

Singer and actor Lee Jun-ho’s concert film will have an exclusive screening at CGV on July 24, in celebration of the 11th anniversary of his solo debut.

The film, “2024 Lee Junho Concert: The Day We Meet Again” (direct translation), will follow the singer’s concert of the same name, held in January at Jamsil Arena in Songpa District, Seoul. It will show the singer performing a set including his self-written songs against the band’s live music.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has confirmed that it will audit the Korea Football Association over the controversial appointment of Hong Myung-bo as head coach of the national soccer team.

“The audit has been finalized since Vice Minister Jang Jang-ran met with reporters the day before and mentioned the audit,” a ministry official told Yonhap News Agency.

The vice minister met with reporters after visiting the National Assembly the day before and having a conversation with National Assembly Speaker Chu Kyung-ho about the controversy over the appointment of the national soccer team’s coach, saying, “Many people are wondering whether the KFA is operating properly. We will prepare well to resolve people’s questions through the audit,” he said.

The ministry has begun auditing the soccer federation in writing, and it has not decided when it will conduct an “on-site audit,” where it will go directly to the soccer federation to audit.

The ministry had earlier announced on Nov. 15 that it would investigate whether there were any improprieties in the KFA’s management and national team selection process.

The ministry, which was conducting a basic investigation into the KFA, decided to switch to a full audit on Aug. 18 after finding problems with the selection process.

The KFA has vowed to cooperate with the audit.

“We have not yet been contacted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,” said an official from the KFA, adding, ”We will do our best to fulfill the inspection request.” 메이저사이트

The financial regulator said Wednesday that toughened rules and the punishment of illegal transactions involving virtual assets will be implemented this week.

The new law, the Virtual Asset Users Protection Act, requires virtual asset exchanges to report illegal transactions to the financial regulator, and a life-sentence can be sought against unlawful gains exceeding 5 billion won, according to the Financial Services Commission 커뮤니티 (FSC).

The regulator also can impose fines or push for legal punishments following the conclusion of an investigation by legal authorities.

Suspicious transactions involving virtual assets spiked nearly 49 percent on-year to over 16,000 cases in 2023, the FSC said earlier.

Korea’s land ministry said Wednesday it has signed a tentative agreement with Vietnam’s construction ministry to cooperate in city and town development projects in the Southeast Asian nation.

Korean Land Minister Park Sang-woo signed a memorandum of understanding with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, on the cooperation on urban and social housing development during his trip to Hanoi on Tuesday, the ministry said.

The ministry said it expects the Vietnamese government to formally establish ways for Korean companies to participate in urban development projects in the country, such the one in the Bac Ninh region and Hanoi’s plan to build 1 million social housing units by 2030.

Nguyen said Vietnam aims to increase its urbanization rate from the current 43 percent to 50 percent by 2030 and expressed hope that Korean companies will actively participate in 토토 Vietnam’s urban and housing development.

Park said Korea’s experience in managing rapid urbanization through new city development and urban redevelopment will serve as a valuable example. He promised to share Korea’s experience and knowledge on land and fund procurement, as well as housing allocation methods, with Vietnam.

The Korean minister also requested cooperation from the Vietnamese construction ministry to facilitate the participation of the Korea Land and Housing Corp. in the Bac Ninh region’s development project. 

National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik on Wednesday proposed the parliament come up with a bill to revise the Constitution with the aim of holding a national referendum in 2026.

Woo made the suggestion in an address marking the 76th anniversary of Constitution Day, officially proposing that President Yoon Suk Yeol hold talks with the Assembly to discuss the amendment.

“The 22nd National Assembly should be one that succeeds in revising the Constitution,” he said, seeking support from the rival parties.

“We should pass the constitutional revision bill by the next local elections under any circumstances while leaving open the scope of the Constitution and the timing of applying the new Constitution,” he added.

Woo proposed forming a special committee on the constitutional amendment, saying an advisory body directly under the Assembly speaker will be launched at the earliest date to push for discussions.

“I also propose a dialogue on the Constitution to 토토사이트 President Yoon,” he said. “If the president and the legislative representatives meet in person and have wide-ranging discussions, the possibility of realizing the constitutional revision will be much greater.”

Past attempts to revise the 1987 Constitution, which limited the presidency to a single five-year term, have failed due to political power split between a powerful presidency and a fractious parliament.

In Korea, the president or parliament can propose a constitutional amendment, which must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the Assembly and then by a majority in a national referendum in which more than half of eligible voters participate.

MetLife Korea is enhancing training and operational support for its financial sales representatives (FSRs), so that it can meet increasing demand for expert services among corporate and high-net-worth clients, the insurer said Wednesday.

As a part of the measures, MetLife Korea held its first-ever 2024 Expert FSR Summit at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on July 10. The insurer shared its plans to develop expert agents and help them provide the best service possible. Expert FSRs are talented professionals such as doctors, lawyers, 대표하는 certified public accountants, tax accountants, patent attorneys, labor attorneys and appraisers who also work as insurance sales agents.

Expert agents are in demand because customers are increasingly finding it challenging to navigate tax and legal issues surrounding inheritance and donations. From 2019 to 2024, the number of MetLife Korea’s expert FSRs increased by an average of 72 percent per annum.

Today, they work with other agents to provide in-depth expertise, enabling customers to receive comprehensive advice and solutions tailored to their insurance and savings needs.

More than 250 attendees including MetLife leaders and expert FSRs participated in the summit, reinforcing the vision for the team and sharing success stories.

“Korea is the important market for MetLife,” MetLife Asia President Lyndon Oliver said during the summit.

“MetLife has built a respected brand in this market. Our goal is to set new benchmarks in customer care, product innovation and growth, so that we can stand out from our competitors,” he said.

MetLife Korea CEO Song Young-rok said MetLife will reinforce the professional service.

“We will deliver a tailored program for expert FSRs to provide multi-faceted support for their growth, and also reinforce the professional consulting service for our corporate and high net-worth customers to address labor, tax and legal issues,” Song said.

MetLife Korea, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, recently unveiled its ambition to become one of the top five life insurers in Korea in the next five years.