– Copyright Act (Act No. 432 of January 28, 1957), as amended several times, last amended on November 26, 2019 (effective from May 27, 2020), on February 4, 2020 (effective from August 5, 2020), on December 8, 2020 (effective from June 9, 2021, on May 18, 2021 (effective from May 18, 2021), on December 7, 2021 (effective from December 8, 2022), on December 7, 2021 (effective from December 8, 2022), on May 16, 2023 (effective from November 17, 2023), on August 8, 2023 (effective from August 8, 2023), and on August 8, 2023 (effective from February 9, 2024).

– Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
– Universal Copyright Convention.
– Phonograms Convention, since October 10, 1987.
– WTO's TRIPS Agreement, since January 1, 1995.
– WIPO Copyright Treaty, since June 24, 2004.
– WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, since March 18, 2009.
– Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, since March 18, 2009.
– Marrakesh Treaty, since September 30, 2016.
– Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, since July 22, 2020.

Registration is not required for owners of an original work. Copyright protection is automatic and free from the moment a work is created. However, registration provides important benefits such as proof of ownership, and if the work was registered before an infringement occurred, the claimant can seek statutory damages from the infringer.  

Duration: during the lifetime of the author, plus 70 years after his death; in case of anonymous and pseudonymous works, works made for hire, and cinematographic works 70 years after the work has been made public.

Authority name: Korea Copyright Commission. Internet address: www.copyright.or.kr/eng/main.do  

Collective Management Organizations: a full list of CMOs, which are authorized to conduct business in Korea, is available on the website of the Korea Copyright Commission at the following link www.copyright.or.kr/eng/links/collective-management-organizations.do