The South Korean government recently launched a campaign called “Kpop4Planet” in response to growing criticism over the use of plastic in the production of physical K-pop albums. This initiative aims to align companies’ sustainability commitments with their production practices. However, experts say the effectiveness of this campaign remains uncertain, as it relies on incentives rather than obligations.
The Ministry of Environment will collaborate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to hold consultations with members of the Recording Industry Association of Korea (RLIAK) on government regulations related to the production of album covers. They will also introduce alternative measures to reduce the use of plastic in these productions.
Currently, South Korea does not have strict regulations regarding the excessive production of music albums. The ministry is only encouraging the voluntary participation of the entertainment industry in the fight against climate change.
Every year, approximately 100 million physical albums are sold, with no government regulation on entertainment companies’ marketing strategies. Fans are often encouraged to purchase multiple copies to collect photo cards and other included items.
According to the Circle Chart, which tracks album sales in South Korea, physical album sales reached 115.2 million in the 50th week of 2023, an increase of 49% from the previous year. . This figure is almost 14 times higher than 2013’s sales of 8.3 million albums.
This trend stands in stark contrast to the situation in the United States, the world’s largest music market. RLIAK data shows that physical album sales have continually declined in the United States, from 172.2 million in 2013 to 37 million last year, and below 73 million in 2003.
According to KPop 4Planet, an environmental organization involving K-pop fans around the world, entertainment companies’ marketing strategies exploit fan loyalty to maximize profits, leading to massive album production and waste. substantial plastics.
Although there are no precise statistics on the materials used to produce the albums, entertainment companies’ waste contribution cost records estimate that the top 15 producers, including HYBE, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment, sold more than 390 tonnes of plastic packaging in 2022.
According to a 2021 survey by KPop 4Planet, 95.6% of respondents believe entertainment companies have a negative impact on the environment. “The Korean music industry needs to take more responsibility to address global issues, including climate change,” said a representative from KPop 4Planet.
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