With K-Pop boy and girl groups being all the rage among global audiences around the world, it is easy to miss out on some of the incredible music created by Korean bands that are also a significant part of the South Korean musical scene. Starting from grunge, indie rock and soft rock all the way to psychedelia, metal, nü metal and djent, these bands have it all covered. Besides popular idol bands like Day6 and N.Flying, there are several others that aren't that well known to international audiences.While many may not know of them, they do also have sincere fan bases of their own and we believe that more people need to be aware of the amazing music that comes out of these artists.
1. Hyukoh
Possibly one of the biggest rock acts to come out of South Korea, Hyukoh are known for their distinct melancholic and indie sound. Their music videos are insanely creative and expressive with powerful vocals and genre defying melodies. The front man of the band, Oh Hyuk is fluent in Korean, Mandarin and English which only adds to their global reach.
We Recommend:
2. The Rose
Having shot to popularity right from their days as buskers in South Korea, The Rose is a 4 member rock band composed of Woo Sung (vocals, electric guitar), Jaehyeong (bass), Dojoon (vocals, piano) and Hajoon (drums). Their music is characteristically inclined towards soft rock and pop rock genres, combined with beautifully evocative lyrics.
We Recommend:
3. South Club
South Club was created when former WINNER member Nam Taehyun decided to leave the group and find his own direction in order to gain more artistic liberty and control over the music he was creating. The frontman is now the lead vocalist and guitarist to the band. South Club's sound leans towards grunge, indie and blues and it is this diversity that leaves fans wanting more.
We Recommend:
4. Guckkasten
If you thought Korea did not produce strong psychedelic rock, it's time to think again. Guckkasten have been a staple in the experimental music scene in South Korea ever since they started out in 2007. The lead vocalist of the band, Ha Hyun-woo was even featured as a performer for the Winter Olympics 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
We Recommend:
5. FTISLAND
Nearly every K-Pop idol has always mentioned FTISLAND as a source of inspiration and the driving force behind their desire to make music. This band has experimented with almost every genre of rock and still managed to retain its fresh sound, not giving into to popular standards and trends. The emotionally vulnerable lyrics and amazing instrumentals only add to the brilliance of this band.
We Recommend:
6. Nell
Nell has always been considered a pioneer in the Korean rock scene that created the foundation for others to build on. Their exploration of darker themes in lyrics and trademark psychedelic sound helped usher a new era of rock music in the country, gaining widespread attention nationally as well as internationally. Nell was also featured recently on RM's solo EP "mono" which made the band known to a wider audience as well.
