'I thought it was a new singer' — the AI-made hit no one saw coming

AI-generated music gains wide popularity

Streaming platforms slow to disclose AI origins

Over 85% of users say AI content labels are needed

The page for Meorumeu's "Kkumkkudeun Eoreuni Doeeonnayo" on the official Melon website. [Screenshot from Melon official website]

An office worker in his 40s was stunned to learn that a song he had recently fallen in love with — "Kkumkkudeun Eoreuni Doeeonnayo" ("Did You Become the Adult You Dreamed of?") — was generated by AI. Captivated by its unfamiliar melody and lyrics, he had gone looking for more music by the same artist, Meorumeu, only to discover the track was created using an AI music tool. The streaming platform he used had given no indication of this.

The backlash comes as South Korea's recently enacted Framework Act on Artificial Intelligence Development and Trustworthiness — commonly known as the AI Basic Act — places disclosure obligations on business operators for AI-generated content, while leaving individuals entirely outside its scope, drawing criticism that a significant regulatory blind spot remains.

With AI-generated works drawing strong public attention, experts say concrete discussions on labeling AI content are urgently needed to protect consumers' right to know.

Meorumeu's "Kkumkkudeun Eoreuni Doeeonnayo" ranked No. 2 on YouTube Music's South Korea Top 100 chart on Wednesday. [Screenshot from YouTube Music]

According to industry sources Wednesday, Meorumeu's "Kkumkkudeun Eoreuni Doeeonnayo" has taken both YouTube and Melon — the country's two dominant music platforms — by storm. Meorumeu has acknowledged that the track was generated using Suno, a generative AI music tool, with everything except the lyrics — including the melody and vocals — produced by AI.

A YouTube video of the song has drawn nearly 10 million views. The track ranked second on YouTube's domestic music chart and third on homegrown streaming platforms including Melon and Bugs.

The platforms themselves, however, have not clearly disclosed that the song was AI-generated.

The AI Basic Act requires AI business operators to disclose when content is AI-generated under its transparency provisions, but the obligation applies only to operators — not to individual creators.

Streaming platforms have deflected responsibility onto individual uploaders, citing the absence of explicit legal requirements covering them.

Meorumeu's "Kkumkkudeun Eoreuni Doeeonnayo" ranked No. 3 on Melon's Top 100 chart on Wednesday. [Screenshot from Melon official website]

User reactions have been largely negative. A survey on AI labeling guidelines conducted by research technology firm OpenSurvey, which polled 3,000 men and women nationwide and 900 SNS users, found that 85.6 percent of respondents said AI content labels are necessary, with 54.1 percent saying they are absolutely necessary.

Comments on streaming platforms reflected similar sentiments, with many users saying they had no idea the song was AI-generated, calling it "a real shock" and asking whether it was "disgusting."

"Discussions around AI-generated music are still very much ongoing, covering issues such as copyright recognition," an industry official said. "From a platform standpoint, it is not easy to mandate AI labeling or arbitrarily restrict the registration of AI-generated tracks."

ko@heraldcorp.com