Well, I have to say that my journey to the land of Girls Generation and Super Junior has changed my perspective of Korean entertainment,  especlially when I went to the place where Indie music are mostly welcome, the Hongdae area. As you may know, talking to the locals are the best way to know what is happening around, and that’s how I found the answers from young to old, music enthustiastic to just absolutly random people who sat next to me at the food stal about their entertainment industry. Even though it was quite depresing reading articles about the movement, I mean the situation is basically quite the same here – there – anywhere out there, but somehow I think the problems is if the artists has the charisma to gain the crowd, I think they can be as big as the idols.

When I asked people who’s their favourite indie rock band, most of the people will say Galaxy Express, even the most random people I met in Hongdae. Ok she’s probably not just random, but I met her at korean cosmetic shop! So I have no choice but to look about this band, and well, their portfolio is quite impressing. Their song? Absolutely something garage rock – punk – fan must listen to. Another band that has the same sych is probably Apollo 18, which both of them were taking part at SXSW in 2011. If we talking about Galaxy Express, I have to admit they have their own class and pretty much impressing with their own music. Winning Korean Music Awards in 2009, dumped their label so they can join KSFB (an independent managment label) and nominated for 2011 Album of the Year for their “Wild Days” album, if this wasn’t called as a badass band, I dont know what to call them.

Another indie rock band you need to hear and quite similar are Crying Nut and Yellow Monsters. As punk rock band they’re likely to perform in the same gigs. Maybe because they’re close friends, they happen to have similarities and influence each other through their music. These bands were big since late 90s, like Crying Nut, if I can say, was become famous during 2002 World Cup, and after that we know they became more success inside and outside Korea.

Who said that good electronica and synth band were only belongs to Japan and other part of British invantion? Mimyo brought lots of elements of synth insturments into their music, which we can find their day dreaming sound on “Floating Ones“ album.

GoGo Boys are four piece band with the sound of californian surf rock kinda style, which sounds fun and easy to listen if you want to feel happy. Its like the sound of rock and roll in the late 80s, music that you would like to have in your car while having some road trip.

This Korean band has adopted American indie influence way too much. Monster Calling Home, has succeeded taking the DIY Southern California indie folk pop style and produce song called “Fight to Keep”, which became famous after their apperance at “Jimmy Kimmel Live”. Well, this my friend, is probably a good sample of a band who did it at the right time and at the right place. Hopefully they can make it more success, if I just listen to their songs, I probably thought they were just good indie band from the state.

Apparently event though their name was The Electric Eels, band that consist of three young happy boys and a quirky girl, has something less than just craziness of an eel, they offer us with their youthful pop music and a simple story to tell on their lyrics.

Chang Kiha and The Faces perhaps was the biggest quirky cathy band you can ever imagine produced in Korea. Even though they made it to Jisan Valley Rock Festival by combining the style of the 80s with 21st pop indie, but they are just too catchy and weird! I mean when you listen to their song, it’s like you’re watching this old comedy about ahjuma running around, just sounds too funny.

Goonamguayeoridingstella or in human dictionary translated as Old time couple riding hyundai car “Stella”, are south korean indie band duo with the sound of low-fi and much adopted the births psychedelic post punk songs in a pop korean version. Something you might want to consider to add in your mixtape.

Hee Young is another Korean girl who lives in the place where every indie band could possibly wanted to be, New York City. Hee Young is one of Korean artists who can bring the sweetness sound of Korean music into her American songs, which we can hear from her first full length album “So Sudden” with songs like “Sally Mason” or her latest “Buy Myself A Goodbye”.

Another band I found interesting, is this band I saw on Arirang’s show, 24 hours , I was struck by how british rock punk music has penetrated deeply to the root of young musician in Seoul. I mean, they seem to have this passion as if punk was their god of music, but luckily they manage to mix it pretty well so it doesn’t sound too weird for Asian listeners.

Anyway, with worldwide publication and help from music community around, I believe that  2013 can be great for Korean indie bands to grow and expand their crowds, so people can see there are lots of things to offer from Korea more than fancy Kpop and Kdrama.

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source: koreanindie , f.ound online, youtube, arirang tv, self-witness, etc