Korea Music Content Association Opposes Bill That Would Reduce Maximum Work Hours Of Teen K-Pop Idols
The Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) has issued a statement categorically opposing the legal amendments that would lower the legal limit of maximum work hours for minor entertainers.
In September last year, National Assembly member Kim Jun Hyuk from the Democratic Party of Korea proposed an amendment to the Act for the Development of the Popular Culture and Arts Industries. The amendment proposed reducing the maximum working hours for underage entertainers, including teen K-Pop idols, trainees, and child actors. The bill essentially calls for the same standards to be applied to teenage entertainers as outlined in the Labor Standards Act. It also suggests applying different hour limitations according to corresponding age groups.
The current South Korean law allows teens in the entertainment industry who are 15 and above to work up to 46 hours per week. However, the Labor Standards Act limits the working hours of minors in the same age group to 40 hours a week.
On February 13, KST, the KMCA, released an official statement opposing this bill, claiming that the content portrayed the music industry negatively without understanding how it operates and proposed radical changes without relevant discussions with the stakeholders.
Here are some of the key points raised by the association in its statement:
1. Reconsideration of the regulation to “Limit Service Hours for Young Pop Culture Artists”
The association argued that restricting work hours based on age groups will create disharmony in the schedules of mixed-age groups where each member’s availability will vastly differ. As a result, broadcasting stations and production companies will inevitably avoid featuring these artists. In addition, during critical activity periods, such as album releases, concerts, overseas performances, etc, these restrictions will “weaken the global competitiveness of Korea’s popular culture industry.”
The association even argued that the regulation essentially violated the principle of fairness in law application as it “unfairly discriminates between youth who struggle with their studies late into the night and youth artists who aspire to grow into global cultural figures without legitimate justification..”
2. Reconsideration of the regulation to “Protect the Rights and Educational Opportunities of Young Artists”
Though the association stated that the industry agrees with securing teen entertainers’ educational rights, it already has self-regulation and established guidelines to protect them.
For instance, we have already been leading the way in improving young artists’ rights, such as limiting their participation in regular educational programs or requiring prior consent from the artist and their legal guardian for nighttime activities. Moreover, the industry strictly adheres to the current law that limits the service hours of artists under the age of 15.
— KMCA
The KMCA also argued that the definition of “educational rights” needed to be expanded to suit the current state of the K-Pop industry. Instead of limiting the concept to just completing a formal curriculum, it should also take into account the dance, vocal, composition, and foreign language education that trainees are provided with by expert educators.
Every youth has the freedom to develop the skills needed for their future aspirations. For youth who dream of becoming K-pop artists, forcing them to follow a standardized curriculum would infringe on this diversity.
— KMCA
3. Pursue amendments which adequately reflect the current industry situation
The statement concluded with the KMCA urging the National Assembly to revise the current bill with policies that are better aligned with the industry’s realities and stakeholders’ opinions.
K-pop artists are enhancing the national brand value by performing globally…Rushing into regulations without sufficient discussion with the industry will weaken K-pop’s global competitiveness.
— KMCA
You can read more about the “Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act” here:
