Seoul: Sixteen organizations representing cultural creators, including the Korea Broadcasters Association, have issued a joint statement calling for a comprehensive review of the government's "National Artificial Intelligence Action Plan," which was announced a month ago. Their primary concern revolves around Action Item No. 32.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Action Item No. 32 suggests that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should prepare amendments to the copyright law by the second quarter of this year to address "legal uncertainty" regarding AI training. The proposal assumes that obtaining individual consent from rights holders to use copyrighted works is too expensive and time-consuming for AI development. Critics fear this could lead to a "use first, compensate later" approach, allowing AI companies to train models on creative works without prior permission and deal with compensation at a later stage.
The action plan, formulated by the presidentially-chaired National AI Strategy Committee, aims to supply training data rapidly and cost-effectively, with the objective of becoming one of the world's top three AI powers. The emphasis on speed and the setting of deadlines for policy steps reflect a sense of urgency. While the government's commitment to fostering AI and recognizing the importance of speed is understandable, concerns arise when this drive threatens the foundations of K-culture, a critical component of Korea's future.
A "use first, compensate later" policy potentially undermines creators' fundamental right to control the use of their works. Even if compensation is provided, there is a significant risk that payments will be calculated based on standards more favorable to AI companies, potentially leaving creators inadequately compensated. This approach also contradicts global trends.
In contrast, the European Union and Britain have institutionalized or are considering "opt-out" systems that prevent works from being used for AI training unless creators explicitly refuse. In the United States, ongoing copyright lawsuits against AI companies are gradually shaping standards through court rulings. Korea, however, seems poised to legislate broad copyright immunity for AI training soon, focusing primarily on reducing industry burdens while providing limited protections for creators.
Treating creative content as a public resource for AI development risks undermining the ecosystem that generates it. After the global spread of image generation in the style of Studio Ghibli last spring, the studio sent a cease-and-desist letter to OpenAI in November 2025, arguing that even an opt-out system was inadequate and that prior authorization should be mandatory.
The government has allocated a 20-day public consultation period for the plan. Excluding the year-end holidays, this allows barely 10 working days to consider measures that could significantly alter the nation's cultural landscape. While the aspiration to become an "AI powerhouse" is urgent, Korea must avoid sacrificing the thriving K-culture. Instead of rushing toward legislation in the second quarter, the government is urged to slow down and pay closer attention to the voices of creators.