AI-assisted songs storm Korean music charts

Artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted music, which spread rapidly through short-form videos and YouTube just a few months ago, has now broken into the upper reaches of major Korean music charts. As songs not sung by actual human vocalists compete alongside established artists, debate over AI music is intensifying. As of Wednesday, “Have You Become the Adult You Dreamed of?” by Meomuru ranked No. 3 on Melon’s TOP100 chart. The song also reached No. 2 on Genie Music and YouTube Music, placing it near the top of major streaming platforms. Released in June, the track gradually gained word-of-mouth popularity. As recently as early October, it remained as among the top 20 songs on Melon’s TOP100 before climbing rapidly. Its rise suggests that online buzz is translating into actual music consumption. A rock ballad, “Have You Become the Adult You Dreamed of?” explores the gap between the person one dreamed of becoming as a child and the reality of adulthood, along with the worries that accumulate over time. What makes the song particularly striking is that its emotionally expressive