K-Pop’s Top Songwriter Revealed—Last Year’s No.1 in Royalties! (ft. SEVENTEEN)

Singer-songwriter and producer BUMZU has made history by becoming the first-ever artist to sweep all major popular music categories at the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) Copyright Awards.

At the 11th KOMCA Copyright Awards, held on February 25, BUMZU took home the grand prizes for songwriting, composition, and arrangement, solidifying his place as one of K-pop’s most influential creators.

The KOMCA Copyright Awards is Korea’s only official awards ceremony recognizing the highest-earning songwriters, composers, and arrangers from the past year. BUMZU, who had already won the songwriting and composition awards last year, took his achievement one step further by claiming all three major categories this year.

Known for shaping the musical identity of PLEDIS Entertainment artists like SEVENTEEN and NU’EST, BUMZU expressed his gratitude: "Thank you to everyone who loves K-pop. I have immense respect for all my fellow creators, both seniors and juniors, who continue to innovate and inspire."

Other major winners included composer Lee Sang-hee, who won in the children's music category for the fifth consecutive year, marking a historic milestone. His work, which blends warmth and educational elements, has significantly contributed to the development of children's music. In the classical music category, globally renowned pianist and composer Yiruma claimed the award for the fourth consecutive year. His signature melodic and emotive compositions continue to bridge the gap between classical, new age, and mainstream music.

For the Song of the Year award, 'Do or Die' by Lim Young-woong was recognized as the highest copyright revenue-generating song from streaming in 2024. Lyricists Lim Young-woong and Cha Ri (Cha A-rin) were acknowledged for their contributions. Veteran folk music legend Song Chang-sik was inducted into the KOMCA Hall of Fame for his timeless, poetic music and numerous hit songs. Since debuting in the late 1960s, he has led the Korean folk music scene with classics like Whale Hunting, Why Call Me, and Cigarette Store Lady.

The awards for outstanding contributions to non-pop music recognized excellence in various genres. This year’s recipients included Lee Young-jo for pure music, Jeon In-pyeong for Korean traditional music, Kim Jong-sang for children's music, and Park Min-woo for religious music.

Industry professionals behind the scenes were also honored for their contributions. Choi Nam-jin received the Music Industry Development Award for his lifelong efforts in enhancing the quality of Korean pop music sound. Lee Sang-gi was recognized in the manager category for his dedication to supporting various artists and their musical careers.

In the broadcasting sector, Park Seung-hwa of CBS 'Into the Gayo' and Kim Hye-young, host of MBC 'Single Bungle Show' and KBS 'Morning Forum', were acknowledged for their contributions. In the performance category, legendary guitarist Ham Chun-ho was recognized for his impact as a performer.

Meanwhile, KOMCA has set its 2025 music copyright revenue collection budget at 450.9 billion KRW ($315M), with a distribution budget of 426.3 billion KRW ($298M).