Protect Copyright, Now!

Consume Content Fairly, Use It Confidently

2025 Copyright Protection Campaign Proclamation Ceremony

2025 Copyright Protection Campaign Proclaims “Consume Content Fairly, Use It Confidently” 

On April 23, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Copyright Protection Agency (KCOPA) hosted the “2025 Copyright Protection Campaign” ceremony at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Around 100 domestic and international guests attended, including First Vice Minister Yong Hosung of the MCST, President Park Jungryeol of the KCOPA, and Chairman Kang Seokwon of the Korea Copyright Commission (KCC), all of whom shared a common understanding of copyright protection. During the ceremony, the campaign's direction and ten key copyright protection tasks were presented for public implementation, aimed at stimulating public interest and participation in copyright protection.

In his congratulatory remarks, VM Yong highlighted the significance of “World Book and Copyright Day,” which was established by the UNESCO General Conference in 1995, and noted the rapid global rise in copyright infringement. He stated that last year the number of copyright infringement cases worldwide reached approximately 2.4 billion, with Korean content accounting for approximately 400 million cases, or 17% of the total. This underscores the fact that Korean content faces significant infringement both domestically and internationally.

VM Yong highlighted the low level of copyright awareness by citing a copyright infringement case involving a book he authored. He stated, “Since the digital age began, the nature of piracy has diversified, and there is a recent surge in the illegal distribution of text content. Copyright infringements, such as sharing PDF files of textbooks, continue to occur in universities, so we need to raise awareness about this issue.”

He also noted that the advent of the AI era raises new copyright issues. Since the Framework Act on the Development of AI and Establishment of Trust (AI Act) was enacted, concerns about the use of AI learning data and the copyright of AI products have surfaced. For this reason, the government is developing institutional solutions to address these issues.

Announcement of the 10 Major Copyright Protection Actions for 2025, to be implemented by the public

At the proclamation ceremony, the campaign direction and 10 major copyright protection actions were announced for public implementation under the slogan “Protect Copyright, Now! Consume Content Fairly, Use It Confidently.” The campaign aimed to broadly raise awareness of the importance of copyright protection and to present concrete, easy-to-implement measures for daily life. Efforts to protect copyrights overseas will also be reinforced. To be specific, copyright awareness campaigns will be expanded overseas, including Thailand, and cooperation with international investigative agencies, such as Interpol, will address the issue of illegal distribution on a global scale.

The 10 Major Copyright Protection Actions for 2025

① Close illegal video distribution sites, now!

② Stop sharing or using illegal publications, now!

③ Stop illegal downloads or copies of your favorite music, now!

④ Pay the appropriate usage fee to enjoy webtoons and web novels, now!

⑤ Stop secretly filming or distributing performances, now!

⑥ Stop using illegal private server games, now!

⑦ Purchase and use genuine software, now!

⑧ Check the licenses for fonts and images before using them, now!

⑨ Report any pirated content to Copy112, now!

⑩ Join the “Consume Content Fairly, Use It Confidently” campaign, now!

Singer-songwriter 10CM Kwon Jung-yeol appointed as 2025 Copyright Protection Campaign Ambassador

Singer-songwriter 10CM (Kwon Jung-yeol) was appointed as the Copyright Protection Ambassador at the event. As the ambassador, 10CM will advocate for the importance of copyright protection through various activities, including the production of copyright protection campaign songs and participation in promotional content. He is expected to directly deliver the importance of copyright protection as a creator, thereby increasing the authenticity and empathy of the campaign.

During his acceptance speech, 10CM stated, “I believe my dedicated work in creating music has been well received. I will keep striving to spread positive messages.” Following the appointment ceremony, 10CM delivered celebratory performances, including “To Reach You,” “Wards You,” "Phonecert,” and “Love at Milky Way Coffee Shop.”

Hansan Yiga, <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call> author’s talk concert on the future of books and copyright protection in the digital age

Following the ceremony, a talk concert was held with Hansan Yiga, a web novel writer and professor. He gave a lecture titled “The Future of Books and Copyright Protection in the Digital Age,” and shared his practical experiences and insights from a creator's perspective.

As the author of <The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call> and <AI Doctor>, and having expanded them into dramas and webtoons, he provided in-depth insights focusing on the structure of the One Source Multi Use (OSMU) market and copyright-related practices.

He emphasized the explosive growth of the web novel market over the past decade, and stated that the market, which was worth KRW 20 billion in 2015, would exceed KRW 1 trillion by 2024, surpassing the entire print publishing market in sales. In addition, he shared his practical experience as a web novel writer, covering contract structures, revenue structures, and the importance of reviewing contracts when signing web novels, thereby enhancing the audience's understanding of the web novel market. The subsequent Q&A session was vibrant, with attendees from various fields asking questions.