Because South Korean music goes beyond K-pop.
It ’s night in Hongdae , a neighborhood inSeoul , South Korea . On the street , you might get word the sound of street performer busking , outdoor performances starting to wind down ahead of the urban center ’s eve curfew . But stair inside a locale likeCafe Unplugged , which hosts unlike autonomous musicians every night , and there are still plenty of tunes to be heard . And while South Korea has become synonymous withK - popfor many foreigners , this is something entirely different .
At first glance , Cafe Unplugged seem like a distinctive hipster coffee shop , except with well more guitars lie around . musical instrument are lined up against the wall and around the tables and chairs . Another wall has shelf lined with books , stationery , vinyl radical , candela , and other trinkets . A few client sip mugs of tea and deep brown . But step into a stairwell covered in flier for local artist and you ’ll observe your way to the venue hidden beneath the coffee bar — a small-scale , packed room with about 60 chairman leading up to a stage .
Cafe Unplugged has been part of the Hongdae indie music scene for over 20 long time . Owner Jinyoung Kang has been working to keep the indie shot live . Though a set of indie musician perform each night , Kang has designated Mondays as loose mic nights to allow five or six individuals or groups to showcase their gift . “ It ’s a collaborative effort between deviser , performers , and the hearing to bring this space to life , ” he says .
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How indie music came to Hongdae
These types of venues have been common around Hongdae since the early nineties as an opportunity for main instrumentalist to perform their medicine live and in front of an audience . Due to the cheap rent in the ‘ 90s , euphony space like Drug , Rollinghall , and Club BBang began pop up , establishing the area as the hub for the indie medicine scene . Cafe Unplugged , Strange Fruit , Jebidabang , Club FF , Cafe Veloso , and many others subsequently followed in the 2000s .
As clip go on , Hongdae became a popular hotspot , get rents to lift . Several clubs , include the fabled lodge Drug , could not open to delay open despite attempts to advertise the venues and music through festivals . The COVID pandemic caused several more to exclude down . The remaining venues have sustained their businesses through especial event , festivals , government assistance , and residential area support . But a lot of it comes down to merely charging for just the ticket .
“ Unplugged has survived nearly 20 age thanks to just the ticket sales , ” Kang explain . “ Charging admission has been all-important in indorse the maturation of indie bands . Since Korea doesn’thave a tipping refinement , we share the revenue from ticket sales with the creative person andplanners based on a fit proportion . This has allowed us to create a financially sustainable distance . ”
Photo by Lee Dong Wook
Going beyond K-pop
Though South Korea is best know internationally for its mainstream kilobyte - pop music , Hongdae ’s music venues entirely focalize on emerge indie creative person and groups . For many musician , the golf-club are a stepping stone toward gain a following and hopefully obtaining commercial recognition . One of Korea ’s most successful indie stria , Crying Nut , started out by do on a regular basis at a club in Hongdae . In 1998 , they sell over 100,000 copy of their launching record album , unheard of for an indie chemical group at the time . They remain alive and self-governing , garnering more international attention after perform at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup , SXSW in 2012 and 2014 , and various euphony festivals worldwide .
“ Lee Seung - yoon , Kim Sawol , and the members of Hyukoh have all performed [ at Cafe Unplugged before finding commercial success ] , ” pronounce Kang . “ Many artist who protrude at Unplugged have gone on to work out in the broader Korean music industry , including in mainstream potassium - dada euphony production , such as BTS .
Indie player and producer Hweechan Choi , who has performed in clubs and busk on the streets of Hongdae , credit kelvin - dad ’s global influence for foreground Korean cultivation and , afterward , its indie music . This has go to more Koreans feeling internal superbia and being concerned in Korean euphony . grant to Choi , “ People abroad are already familiar with Korean finish . Now , Koreans are starting to spend more on music , aid the domestic music industry grow . ”
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Yet many indie artists turn away being label as “ green - pop , ” even though many foreign medium run to collocate Korean instrumentalist together . Crying Nut ’s SXSW appearance was marketed as part of a “ K - Pop Night Out ” event . Indie rock chemical group The Rose , which started busk and do in Hongdae before finding outside celebrity , is still often referenced as K - papa . Rock groupHyukohhas evensaidthey’ve benefit from the 1000 - pop literary genre , while at the same time emphasizing that they are n’t K - pop .
“ If you have the word ‘ K - soda water ’ attached , the Korean government might take more interest and support indie music , ” says Manjo Park of the indie bandYippee , who performs at Cafe Unplugged . “ [ But ] we are not beau ideal . We are a stria that grew up take heed to the Beatles and compose our own birdsong . ”
Music critic Yoona Kim , who has been at the head of Korea ’s music scenery , sees K - pop as a gateway for other Korean musicians to attain world-wide exposure . “ [ Rock group ] Silica Gel has been recognise in Korea for their musical natural endowment throughout their 10 - twelvemonth career , but only recently begin to attract a wider public care , ” says Kim . “ If jet - rock gains more pic internationally , it could come across with fans presently focused on K - pa . The potential for K - rock and roll ’s development is substantial . Korea boasts an array of talented rock musicians who continue to issue despite thought-provoking condition , and we ’re optimistic this drift will go on . ”
From the streets of Hongdae to the rest of the world
Though Hongdae ’s music locus have soundly supported indie artists , the neighborhood ’s busking street scene is an integral part of its identity — and unlike its venues , it does often incline into K - pop . Though Hongdae ’s street are filled with various performers , include Isaac Bashevis Singer , bands , dancers , and even thaumaturgist , the amount of aspiring K - pa idols and terpsichore cover song team has increased over the preceding few years , drawing in a widespread fanbase thanks to the internet .
For a long prison term , busking here was seen in a negative light , but it has since evolved into a tourist attraction for those wishing to see live music , dance performances , and magic trick shows . And even the indie band get in on it .
“ Busking in Hongdae is a long - remain firm tradition that still does n’t get the esteem it deserves , ” says Park . “ When we post about our performances on societal medium , we might get perchance three like . It takes about 10 year for a ring to get noticed in promotions . Most of the time , it ’s just people passing by who stop to watch out . ”
Photo by Lee Dong Wook
Hongdae stay a starting gunpoint for many indie artists and bands find out to be recognize beyond yard - pop and South Korea . Many bands have obtain achiever through busking . Indie groups like The Rose , Band Gift , Zitten , and Ganeungdong Band started on the street of Hongdae before play in local clubs and festivals . However , securing music clubs has become challenge due to rival among indie group . Venues still want to make a profit and may need to choose the more marketable groups .
“ Indoor display are the height for indie musicians , ” Park explain . “ There are n’t many venue where we can perform . ”
But that does n’t deter Park , who dream of someday performing atCoachella . He continues to perform any chance he gets . “ I trust I can change the Korean market , ” says Park . “ If I ’m a talented musician who could make it at Coachella , I believe that my voice is powerful enough to exchange the Korean music market and the culture of the world . ”
Photo by Lee Dong Wook
