헤어디자인저작권 보호의 개선방안

Abstract

Although choreography has recently gained recognition and legal protection due to the revised Korean Copyright Act, hair design remains outside the institutional framework and is regarded merely as a service rather than as a work of creativity. Our study highlights the importance of establishing a legal framework for copyrights on hair design as a form of applied art based on human expression. To address this gap, our study proposes to add a specific provision and to develop a digital-based registration system to strengthen the arguments of legal recognition of hair design as “applied artwork” under the Copyright Act. We also recommend introducing a new classification of “beauty art” within the Korea Copyright Commission’s registration system that is supported by a specialized review committee to oversee registration, disclosure, and dispute resolution. To ensure fair remuneration for creators, standardized contracts and trust management systems must be implemented. A separate “Hair Design Copyright Protection Act” should be enacted to align domestic policy with international standards, such as WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). Finally, institutional infrastructure—research centers, specialized education programs, dedicated personnel, funding—is essential for the system to operate effectively. Establishing copyright protection for hair design will transform Korea’s beauty industry from a service-oriented sector into a creativity-based economy. This will reinforce the nation’s commitment to cultural and intellectual property rights.