South Korea is opening the door to self-rating for music videos. Following games and video works, where the practice is already allowed, producers will be able to classify the age ratings of their own music videos and other music-related video content. The change is expected to streamline distribution of music videos and support growth in the music industry.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Music Industry Promotion Act on the 13th, introducing a self-rating system for music videos and other music video content. Once the amended act takes effect, operators that meet requirements set by presidential decree and register with the Korea Media Rating Board will be able to classify the ratings of music video content themselves, notify the board and then release the content. Not every piece of music video content, however, will have to go through self-rating before release.
Reflecting industry views that registering as a self-rating operator could be a burden for small and mid-sized producers that make only five to eight music videos a year, the amendment allows producers to choose between a rating from the board and self-rating, depending on their needs. Detailed rating categories and classification standards will be set by presidential decree, taking into account the purpose of production and distribution characteristics of music video content.
The ministry has also put in place safeguards before and after release to prevent minors from being exposed to harmful music video content. Self-rating operators must notify the board before distributing or posting music video content, designate a person responsible for ratings and complete training required for rating work. If a rating assigned by a self-rating operator is judged to be inappropriate, the board can order an adjustment, and if the operator fails to comply, the board can cancel the rating.
The amended Music Industry Promotion Act will take effect one year after promulgation, and the ministry plans to work with the board and the music industry before then to revise subordinate regulations covering registration requirements and rating standards. The amendment also replaces the loanword "infra" with the Korean term for basic infrastructure as part of an effort to use plainer public language.
Under current law, anyone seeking to produce or distribute music video content must obtain a rating from the board. But with self-rating systems already in operation for similar content such as games and video works, calls to extend the system to music video content have been raised repeatedly.
The ministry said music videos and other music video content are a key part of the music industry, adding that it expects the new system to simplify distribution procedures for music videos and improve marketing efficiency and response times.