The Korean indie scene is one of the most authentic and riveting musical experiences that you could be a part of. The musical style of each artist is so unique that it’s possible for anybody to find a band that suits their taste. So, we’ve compiled a list of Korean indie artists that you should have on your playlist. Note: This list is not a ranking and is in no particular order.
1. Oh Hyuk
Oh Hyuk is a musician and also part of the popular indie band Hyukoh. The name was initially for him to use to perform as a soloist but ended up becoming the name of the band. He is one of the iconic artists on the Korean indie scene. This is one of his most famous songs with PRIMARY called ‘Bawling’.
2. Lacuna
Lacuna is a 4-member rock band consisting of members MinHyuk Jung, KyungMin Jang, Kim Ho, and Isaac Ho. They will be releasing their 4th EP “Summer Tales” on Feb. 24 at 12 PM KST. Here is one of their songs called ‘Dancing in the rain’.
3. KARDI
KARDI is a rock band that was formed on the survival show “Superband 2”. The band consists of 5 members namely Kim YeJi, Hwang Leen, Hwang InKyu, Park DaWool, and Jeon SeongBae. They combine traditional Korean instruments such as the gayageum (traditional Korean harp/zither) and modern instruments. You might recognize their sound from their feature in the OST for “Bulgasal: Immortal Souls” called ‘Tunnel’. Here is a video of their live performance of ‘Tears of Mokpo’ from their appearance on “Immortal Songs 2”.
4. CHEEZE
CHEEZE was initially a 4-member band including member Dalchong. However, she ended up as the only remaining member and continuing activities under the same name. You might recognize CHEEZE’s music from her most recent OST for “Forecasting Love and Weather” called ‘Melting’. Here is one of her songs ‘LOSER’.
5. Llwyd
Llywd is another indie musician who has been gaining popularity for his incredible voice and music production skills. You might have heard songs that he has produced before through the OST for “Ghost Doctor” with ‘Fly Away’ sung by B1A4’s CNU, and ‘You Better Not’ sung by TO1’s DongGeon and JaeYun. Here is a song that he sung himself called ‘dryflower’.
6. LEENALCHI
LEENALCHI is a pansori (traditional Korean folk music) band that took South Korea by storm with their song ‘Tiger is Coming’. You can get to know more about Leenalchi in the Seoul episode of the Netflix documentary “Midnight Asia”.
7. SURL
SURL is a rock band made up of high school friends HoSeung, DoYeon, HanBin, and MyeongSuk. Their goal is to be a band that tells relatable stories. Here is one of their songs called ‘Dry Flower’.
8. YaeJi
YaeJi is a Korean-American solo artist. She is known for her unique sound, image, and being a self-taught artist. She recently collaborated with Oh Hyuk. Here is one of her songs ‘Drink I’m Sippin On’. Which Korean indie artists do you listen to? Will you be adding any of the ones mentioned to your stan list? Let us know in the comments. InHeart Music’s Artists Give Insight Into The World Of Korean Indie | Exclusive Interview STAR INTERVIEW|Oct 5, 2021 K-Indie Band Lacuna Introduces Five New Ways To Say “I Love You” Through Their New EP “Summer Tales” KPOP STORIES|Feb 28, 2022
