Why Actors Like Byeon Woo-seok Are Now Claiming Music Royalties

Actors singing in dramas is nothing new in Korean entertainment. But something about it is starting to change.

Actors Byeon Woo-seok and Shin Hyun-joon have officially joined the Korea Music Performers Association (FKMP), marking a shift in how the industry recognizes performances by actors who sing in dramas or films.

According to the organization, the move reflects a growing understanding that songs performed by actors especially in OSTs are independent music performances that deserve the same rights as traditional singers.

Two actors, two different musical moments

The association announced the membership of both actors on March 4, noting that their recent musical activities helped highlight the evolving role of actors in music-related content.

Shin Hyun-joon released the song “If I Hold You in My Arms 2025” last year with fellow actor Jung Joon-ho, while Byeon Woo-seok performed a song as part of the OST for the tvN drama ‘Lovely Runner’, where he played a fictional top star. Their involvement in music-related projects made them eligible to join the performers’ organization.

Why more actors are joining the association

Byeon and Shin are not the only actors making the move. Actors Choo Young-woo, Lee Sun-bin, Jung Hae-in, Kim Min-seok, and Shin Si-ah have also recently joined the organization. In many of these cases, the performances that qualified them were songs performed within dramas or films, particularly OST tracks that gained attention from viewers.

As Korean dramas increasingly blur the line between acting and music performance, the number of actors participating in recorded songs has steadily grown.

What membership actually means

The Korea Music Performers Association represents artists who perform recorded music.

When members participate in songs such as OST tracks, insert songs, or theme music the organization manages related rights on their behalf. That includes collecting neighboring rights royalties and broadcast compensation, ensuring performers receive payments when their recordings are used.

Why this reflects a larger industry shift

According to Kim Seung-min, an executive director at the association, the trend reflects broader changes in the entertainment industry. “Songs performed by actors are no longer just an extra element of a drama. They are creative performances that deserve proper protection and recognition.”

What stands out about the recent memberships is how they highlight the expanding role of actors in music production. In modern K-dramas, actors often record songs tied directly to their characters, making their performances part of the storytelling itself.

As a result, those performances are increasingly being treated not simply as promotional content but as legitimate musical works that generate royalties.