ReportKOCCA – Korea Creative Content Agency
Securing Competitiveness in Human-Creativity-Driven BGM Production in the Age of AI-Generated Music: South Korea
1 Jan 20256 pages~14 min full read
Human creativity remains the primary competitive advantage for BGM producers, as the ability to convey authentic emotion and intent cannot be replicated by AI.
T2Sound maintains market competitiveness by prioritizing meticulous mixing and mastering to ensure high-quality emotional resonance, rather than competing solely on speed or cost.
Global demand is shifting away from generic background music toward tracks with distinctive sonic signatures, with Korean BGM gaining traction due to its unique emotional texture.
Short-form media content requires an immediate, memorable hook within the first few seconds to successfully secure brand recognition and audience immersion.
T2Sound leverages a collaborative model with external creators to achieve richer artistic nuance than what is typically produced through isolated in-house workflows.
By 2026, the South Korean BGM market is expected to consolidate around financially sustainable and proven genres, specifically hip-hop and trot.
The interview with Hong Eun‑Ji, CEO of T2Sound, examines how background‑music (BGM) producers in South Korea can preserve competitive advantage as AI‑generated music becomes increasingly affordable and rapid. The central thesis is that human creativity—particularly the ability to convey authentic emotion and intent—remains the decisive factor that AI cannot replicate, and that leveraging AI as a collaborative tool rather than a threat can enhance, not replace, the artistic value of BGM.
Key insights emphasize that quality and emotional resonance, achieved through meticulous mixing and mastering, are the core values guiding T2Sound’s work. The company prioritises collaboration with external creators, believing that collective expertise yields richer nuance than isolated in‑house production. Market trends reveal a shift among overseas buyers toward tracks with distinctive sonic signatures rather than generic pleasantness, and Korean BGM’s success abroad is linked to its unique emotional line and texture. In short‑form media, the interview highlights the necessity of an immediate, memorable hook within the first few seconds to secure brand recognition and audience immersion.
Looking ahead to 2026, the conversation predicts a consolidation around financially proven genres such as hip‑hop and trot in Korea, reflecting an industry increasingly driven by economic sustainability. The interview’s qualitative methodology—direct dialogue with a leading BGM provider—offers a focused perspective on the evolving interplay between AI tools, human artistry, and global market demands within the South Korean audio‑content sector.
