B O O K AT S E R I O U S . O R G . U K / K- M U S I C F I N D O U T M O R E AT K C C U K . O R G . U K 1 0 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y 1 O C T O B E R – 1 2 N O V E M B E R
K-Music 2023
Produced by the Korean Cultural Centre UK and SERIOUSStarting this autumn, the K-Music Festival is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a stunning lineup of artists, showcasing the very best of contemporary Korean music. With seven live shows across London through October and November, this is a unique opportunity to hear some of the most exciting and dynamic Korean artists performing live.
The festival promises to cater to various musical tastes, presenting a wide range of genres from traditional to contemporary, jazz to rock, and more. Audiences can expect an enriching experience with performances that showcase the richness and diversity of Korean music.
The festivities kick off with a grand showcase featuring the renowned composer Jung Jae-il, accompanied by the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra. The 60-piece orchestra will mesmerise the audience by performing popular scores from two acclaimed productions: the multi award-winning series 'Squid Game' and the Academy Award-winning film 'Parasite.'
Throughout the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to witness captivating performances from various artists. Some of the highlights include CelloGayageum and Dasom Baek, groove& alongside DUO BUD, and the alt-electronic sensation HAEPAARY, who will be making their UK debut.
Moreover, the K-Music Festival proudly welcomes back some returning acts, including the sublime Sun-Mi Hong Quartet, the viral sensation LEENALCHI, the post-rock sounds of JAMBINAI, and the incredible Soojin Suh Chordless Quartet and Kit Downes.
With such an impressive lineup and a decade of celebration, the K-Music Festival is set to provide an unforgettable experience for music enthusiasts and those eager to explore the vibrant world of Korean music.
Whether you are a long-time fan or new to Korean music, this autumn, don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty and creativity of Korean Music at the K-Music Festival 2023.
Dr Seunghye Sun Director Korean Cultural Centre UKK-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 2
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 3 PROGRAMME J U N G J A E- I L + L O N D O N S YM P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A : M U S I C F R O M PA R A S I T E & S Q U I D G A M E S U N 1 O C T B A R B I C A N C E N T R E , L O N D O N C E L L O G AYA G E U M + D A S O M B A E K F R I 6 O C T K I N G S P L A C E H A L L 2 G R O O V E & x D U O B U D T H U 1 9 O C T K I N G S P L A C E H A L L 1 H A E PA A R Y T U E 2 4 O C T T H E L O W E R T H I R D S U N - M I H O N G Q U A R T E T W E D 1 N O V M I LT O N C O U R T L E E N A L C H I x J A M B I N A I F R I 1 0 N O V Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H H A L L S O U T H B A N K C E N T R E S O OJ I N S U H C H O R D L E S S Q U A R T E T + K I T D O W N E S S U N 1 2 N O V P U R C E L L R O O M S O U T H B A N K C E N T R E
A Glance at 10 Years of K-Music
Since the launch of the festival in 2013, the K-Music Festival has curated an impressive collection of 62 live concerts and 14 digital shows featuring a remarkable lineup of 65 bands. The festival has successfully reached an enthusiastic audience of 13,427 attendees in the UK, while also engaging with 31,000 online participants worldwide.
2013
National Orchestra of Korea
Geomungo Factory
Uhuhboo Project + Pere Ubu
Kiha + The Faces + Yi Sung Yol
Ahn Sook-Sun
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 4
2015
[su:m] & Arthur Jeffes
The Barberettes
No Brain + Youth Club
JAMBINAI
Noreum Machi
Sang-il Nam, Aeri Park + ‘Poppin’ Hyunjoon
National Gugak Centre
2016
Jeong Ga Ak Hoe
Youn Sun Nah
Idiotape + PaTiENTS
JAMBINAI
Kyungso Park + Andy Sheppard
Korean Sounds: East Meets West
Asian Chairshot + Danpyunsun + The Sailors
Modern Table
2017
Black String + Kathryn Tickell
Heemoon Lee + Prelude
Jeduk Jeon + Juwon Park
Hyelim Kim + Alice Zawadzki
Woojae Park + Shogo Yoshii + Soumik Datta
Korean Sounds – East Meets West: Love
Aux
Kingston Rudieska
Park Jiha
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 5
2018
SsingSsing
World Music Ensemble E-Do
Urban Sound
Ahn Sook-Sun
Near East Quartet + Kyungso Park
Youn Sun Nah + Hyelim Kim + Alice Zawadzki
2019
JAMBINAI
Korea Pansori Preservation Association
Park Jiha
SB Circle + Hey String
Gonne Choi
Black String
2020
–
DIGITAL FESTIVAL
Black String
JAMBINAI
Heemoon Lee +
Prelude + NomNom
Dongyang Gozupa
Dal:um
Gray by Silver
Gonia
Yoon Jeong Heo
Kyungso Park +
Soona Park
Jaram Lee
Jung Jae-il
Hey String
Park Jiha
Woojae Park
Coreyah
Sinnoi
LEENALCHI
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 6
2021
ADG7
Kyungso Park + Soona Park + Angharad Jenkins
Sinnoi + Dongyang Gozupa
Black String + Nguyên Lê
Dal:um
Soojin Suh Coloris Trio + Camilla George
2022
Dal:um + ReMidas
Jaram Lee
PAKK + EERU
Dongyang Gozupa
Sun-Mi Hong Quintet
Park Jiha
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 7
Diving in
How the K-Music festival introduced one writer to the wonders of Korean culture
A decade ago, I took a chance on a South Korean quartet called Geomungo Factory who were making their UK debut as part of London’s very first K-Music festival. I didn’t realise that evening would change my life.
Their music was funky, intricate, tender, and intriguing. They played long, slender geomungos and a gayageum, both types of traditional zither. In the hands of these young players these instruments were adapted and played in ways that felt entirely contemporary. I was hooked.
At the time, few of us knew much about Korean music. Yes, a 30-something rapper named Psy had upturned what we thought we knew about the pop charts with the reality-melting success of his viral hit ‘Gangnam Style’. But we thought of that more as a ‘Macarena’ for the 2010s, a once in a generation novelty import with its own contagious dance moves. Little did we know he was paving the way for the incalculable success of K-Pop groups like BTS and Blackpink.
In the shadow of these charming, doll-faced idols, an intoxicating new scene was bubbling up in Seoul. Energetic, youthful performers, recently graduated from music studies in gugak (national music), had embraced both tradition and all the verve and vitality of 21st century South Korea to produce something rooted but modern.
Take one of my favourite bands, Jambinai. Their visceral, muscular live shows find an unlikely but entirely natural meeting point between Korean folk instruments and the heavy, explosive sound of post-rock. Championed consistently by K-Music, their success has seen them signed to Bella Union and even closing the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018.
Another artist that K-Music has supported over the last decade is Jiha Park. She plays traditional instruments, but stubbornly insists she is not making folk music but her own contemporary sound using the tools with which she feels most comfortable. Her atmospheric set at King’s Place in 2017 is seared into many a memory, leading to acclaim far beyond world music circles.
That is not to say that K-Music overlooks the purest forms of gugak. Despite warnings that pansori (so called Korean folk opera) is an acquired taste, I’ve found the storytelling of masters like Ahn Sook-Sun and Jaram Lee utterly absorbing.
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 8
The only K-Music festival I’ve missed was 2021’s. But I had a good excuse it coincided with an opportunity to finally set foot on South Korean soil. Mere days after they performed in London, I was standing, freezing in a park, taking in Sinnoi’s liquid blend of double bass, electronics, geomungo and the Bjork-esque voice of Bora Kim Another of my discoveries over there was the feisty percussion trio Groove& - playing this year on 19 October.
I shouldn’t play favourites, but one act seems to bring together the disparate threads of Korean music. LEENALCHI’S videos with the Ambiguous Dance Company have been a viral hit and crossed over to a K-Pop audience. Their debut album, Sugungga, incorporates rock, funk and electronic influences but traces its roots far back to a pansori tale of an unwell dragon king, a turtle and the rabbit that outwits them. Sharing a bill with JAMBINAI on 10 November, they will be a riot!
The worldwide explosion of Korean culture is often called hallyu, or the Korean Wave. If that is the wave, then over the last decade the K-Music Festival has been the full moon that brings the spring tide. As my obsession with Korean music grows deeper, I’ve come to rely on it to bring the finest sounds from this most fascinating of nations crashing onto our shores. Come, dive under with me.
Christopher Conder Music and travel writer
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 9
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 1 0
Jung Jae-il + London Symphony Orchestra: Music from
Parasite & Squid Game
SUN 1 OCT 19:30
BARBICAN CENTRE, LONDON
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the K-Music Festival, renowned composer, and musician Jung Jae-il will open the festival with the London Symphony Orchestra. Jung is known for his versatility and acclaimed works in popular films and series such as Squid Game and Parasite. He has received prestigious music awards and was nominated for the Best Original Song Academy Award, as well as the 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award.
Jung Jae-il Piano
Yulhee Kim Vocals
Jun Hyoung Lee Janggu (double-headed drums)
Seolhoo Kwon Kkwaenggwari (flat gong)
In this extraordinary performance, Jung will showcase his exceptional piano skills alongside the cinematic strings of the 60-piece London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ziegler. The audience will be taken on a captivating musical journey, featuring iconic orchestral compositions from Korean masterpieces from Squid Game, Parasite, Broker, and Okja. Jung will also share music from his latest album Listen and offer a sneak peek of his upcoming autumn release under Decca Records.
‘Throughout, with great simplicity, Jung conjures deeply expressive, imaginative worlds, the mark of a major talent.’
(REVIEW ON LISTEN BY THE GUARDIAN 2023)
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 1 1
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 1 2
East and West meet
CelloGayageum + Dasom Baek
FRI 6 OCT 20:00
KINGS PL ACE HALL 2
CelloGayageum showcase the seamless integration of Western and Eastern string instruments, while Dasom Baek’s masterful performance on the daegeum, a large bamboo flute, gracefully unifies the rich musical traditions of both the East and West. Prepare to be transported to new musical heights as these exceptional artists come together to create a symphony that beautifully bridges cultural divides.
CELLOGAYAGEUM
Sol Daniel Kim Cello
Dayoung Yoon Gayageum
DASOM BAEK
Daegeum (bamboo flute), Saenghwang (Korean bamboo organ)
CelloGayageum find their inspiration in the Pavilion of Unity located in Berlin. This catalyst led to their unique approach to music-making, celebrating the harmonious blending of two cultures and traditions in search of innovation. The duo gained recognition across Europe, debuting in Berlin and captivating audiences. In 2021, they were honoured with an invitation to perform as part of the Korea-Netherlands 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in the Netherlands and Germany.
‘An extraordinary collaboration between East and West featuring the two similar yet different instruments.’
THE KOREA TIMES
Dasom Baek, a visionary composer, improviser, and solo daegeum performer, embraces both tradition and exploration, bringing an innovative approach to Korean music. In 2021, Baek collaborated with cellist Violeta Garcia on the album Absence and performed at festivals including the Rewire Festival and BDRCST Festival to great acclaim. Her second solo album, Mirror City, is set to be released in September 2023.
B O O
AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 1 3
K
Korean Percussion Spectacular: groove& x DUO BUD
THU 19 OCT 20:30
KINGS PL ACE HALL 1
The explosive beats of groove& and DUO BUD collide in a remarkable double bill that will pulsate with rhythmic energy and showcase the seamless fusion of ancient traditions and modern innovation. Their works unravel intricate rhythmic patterns, employ nuanced techniques, and unleash an array of enchanting sounds that bring Korean percussion to life.
groove&
Sangkyung Lee Yanggeum (hammered dulcimer), Janggu (double-headed drums)
Minju Sohn Ulla (a set of gongs), Janggu
Hagyeong Kim Kkwaenggwari (flat gong), Janggu
groove& are an all-female percussion ensemble that specialises in reinterpreting and performing traditional Korean music. With a diverse range of percussion instruments, they create hypnotic and infectious music in their captivating performances. groove& have gained recognition for their talent and artistry, receiving invitations to prestigious events such as the WOMEX and Mundial Montreal festival. They were also honoured with the Grand Prize from the esteemed 21st Century Korean Music Project
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 1 4
DUO BUD
Sora Kim Yanggeum, Janggu, Jing (Korean gong), Jeong ju (Korean singing bowl)
Jihye Lim Gayageum (Korean zither)
DUO BUD, led by percussionist and composer Sora Kim combine the enchanting melodies of the 25-stringed gayageum with vibrant percussion rhythms. Their composition features a fascinating contrast between energetic percussion and lyrical string melodies. Meticulously precise percussion reveals subtle breathing sounds, while the Korean harp adds boldness akin to electronic music. Their innovative fusion of Korean traditional percussion has also garnered acclaim at renowned festivals like SXSW and the World Sacred Spirit Festival, along with successful world tours that have spanned cities in Chicago, New York, Taiwan, and India.
‘Musical instruments gaeryang gayageum and janggu enthralled the audience and made emotions dance in the divinity of the music played’
INDULGE-THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 1 5
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 1 6
Alt-Electronic Duo: HAEPAARY
TUES 24 OCT 19:30 THE LOWER THIRD Minhee Park Vocals
Hyewon Choi Instruments
‘Hypnotic and enthralling.’
BOB BOILEN, NPR
M ki th i UK d b t t th K M i F ti l HAEPAARY lt l t i d h B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 1 7
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 1 8
Sun-Mi Hong Quartet
WED 1 NOV 19:30
MILTON COURT
Sun-Mi Hong Drums
Song Yi Jeon Vocals
Gee Hye Lee Piano
Hyelim Kim Daegeum
Acclaimed drummer Sun-Mi Hong returns for this year ' s K-Music festival with an extraordinary quartet comprising jazz vocalist Song Yi Jeon, pianist Gee Hye Lee and daegeum player Hyelim Kim. A collaboration between improvisation and traditional Korean music, this performance marks the first time these four accomplished improvisers, active in various parts of Europe, will come together to showcase their vibrant fusion of jazz and Korean music
Drummer Sun-Mi Hong gained recognition winning the SENA Dutch Jazz Competition in 2018 and the prestigious Edison Award in 2021 for her album A Self-Strewn Portrait. Song Yi Jeon, a jazz vocalist, performed alongside Grammy winner Dianne Reeves at EFG London Jazz Festival. Gee Hye Lee, a skilled pianist, trained with Paul Schwarz in Stuttgart and received awards from
Baden-Württemberg Art Foundation Competition. Hyelim Kim, an acclaimed daegum soloist, blends innovative approaches with traditional Korean music. Kim has performed at significant events, including the EFG London Jazz Festival and Melbourne Women's Festival.
‘Formally precise, but not at the expense of spontaneous wildness.’ DOWN BEAT
‘Flickering energy. But they never lose forward motion.’
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
‘Especially as the percussionist doesn't hesitate to give her instrument every possible colour.’
CITIZEN JAZZ (REVIEW FOR SUN-MI HONG)
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 1 9
‘Epic folk-rock that proves there’s more to Korea than K-pop’ (★★★★★ SONGLINES)
LEENALCHI x JAMBINAI
FRI 10 NOV 19:30
QUEEN
ELIZABETH HALL, SOUTHBANK CENTRE
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the K-Music Festival, the Korean music icons JAMBINAI and LEENALCHI are joining forces for an unforgettable double bill in partnership with the EFG London Jazz Festival. This highly anticipated event promises to deliver a truly remarkable night that will live long in the memory.
JAMBINAI
Lee Il-woo Electric guitar, Piri, Taepyeongso
Kim Bo-mi Haegeum
Sim Eun-yong Geomungo
B.K Yu Bass
Choi Jae-hyuk Drums
JAMBINAI present taken the Korean music scene by storm with their groundbreaking fusion of intense post-rock, folk, metal, jazz, and ambient electronic elements. They have wowed audiences at major music festivals and events worldwide, including Glastonbury, SXSW, Primavera, Southbank Centre's Meltdown and the Closing Ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and received critical acclaim for their award-winning album ONDA. With their highly anticipated EP Apparition (2022), JAMBINAI will present a mesmerising blend of top-selling tracks and new compositions, reflecting their emotional journey and boundless creativity at this double bill.
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 2 0
LEENALCHI
Kwon Song Hee Vocals
Anh Yi Ho Vocals
Chun Hyo Jeong Vocals
Jang Young Gyu Bass
Noddy Woo Bass
Lee Yong Jin Drums
‘In their latest album Sugungga, Leenalchi succeed
genres by giving their singles a new-wave-inspired, psychedelic spin.’ METAL MAGAZINE
LEENALCHI, led by highly acclaimed bassist and producer Jang Young Gyu, gained worldwide recognition with their unique creation Tiger Is Coming, captivating millions of viewers. Blending traditional Pansori with alternative rock and pop influences, LEENALCHI's vocalists showcase infectious expressivity and breathtaking skill. Their rhythm section drives the songs with stripped-back elegance, drawing from funk, rock, and disco. After a triumphant London debut in 2022 and multiple awards at the Korean Music Awards, including Musician of the Year, LEENALCHI are set to captivate audiences at renowned festivals worldwide including Roskilde, Pohoda, WOMAD and the FMM festival in Portugal Their highly anticipated new album, set to be released this autumn, will have a premiere at the K-Music Festival.
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 2 1
i n d e s t r o y i n g a n d r e a r r a n g i n g t r a d i t i o n a l m u s i c
Soojin Suh Chordless Quartet + Kit Downes
SUN 12 NOV 19:45
PURCELL ROOM, SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Renowned drummer Soojin Suh, known for her collaboration with MOBO-nominated saxophonist Camilla George, returns to the stage for the 10th anniversary of the K-Music Festival. This time, she is teaming up with her fellow ECM artist Kit Downes and her quartet, presenting a captivating blend of improvisation, rhythmic complexity, and melodic ingenuity. This show is presented in partnership with the EFG London Jazz Festival.
SOOJIN SUH CHORDLESS QUARTET:
Soojin Suh Drums
Leesu Jung Alto Saxophone
Hachul Song Tenor, Soprano Saxophone
Younghoo Kim Acoustic Bass
Suh, an acclaimed experimental drummer, embarked on her musical journey at a young age and established herself as a leading figure in the industry. With the Chordless Quartet, she explores new realms of freedom and creativity by omitting polyphonic instruments like the piano. The quartet's exceptional talent was recognised in 2021 when they were selected as the Showcasing Artist for jazzahead! Their recent albums, Strange Liberation (2018) and Roots to Branches (2021) highlight their artistic growth and musical evolution
CAN THIS EVEN BE CALLED MUSIC
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 3 PA G E 2 2
‘Soojin Suh crafts beautiful melodies and arrangements that leave room for improvisation and feeling.’
KIT DOWNES
Kit Downes is a remarkable British musician known for his improvisational prowess. He has recorded organ and piano albums for ECM Records, collaborated with diverse artists, and performed globally on various instruments. Downbeat's Critics Poll recognised him with two 1st place awards for Rising Star in Organ and Keyboard categories. His ECM albums, including Obsidian, Dreamlife of Debris, and Vermillion, have received critical acclaim. Keep an eye out for his upcoming album with his band ‘ENEMY’ and his duo album with Norma Winstone on ECM Records.
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 2 3
‘An exceptional soloist’ WORMSER ZEITUNG
‘It testifies to his world-class stature’ THE GUARDIAN
Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK)
Since being opened in London by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2008, the KCCUK has presented year-round exhibition programmes, film festivals as well as traditional and contemporary musical performances. From the KCCUK’s central London location (just off Trafalgar Square), the institution’s dedicated cultural team work to further develop established cultural projects, introduce new opportunities to expand Korean programmes in the UK and to encourage ongoing cultural exchange
Visitor information
MON – FRI 10:00 – 17:30
Free entry
Korean Cultural Centre UK, Grand Buildings, 1 Strand London WC2N 5BW (Entrance on Northumberland Ave)
Tel: 020 7004 2600
kccuk.org.uk
K-M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 2 2 PA G E 2 6
@KCCUK @KCCUK @KCCUK
Executive Director: Dr Seunghye Sun
Artistic Director: Jaeyeon Park
Creative Producer: Ben Lloyd-Evan (Serious)
Event Producer: Joe Lawes (Serious)
PR Manager: Chloe Munts, Kiran Dhilon (DawBell)
Text Editor: Paul Wadey
Graphic Designer: Marie Benstead
Coordinator: Minji Kim, Sanghon Wee
CREDITS PARTNERS
B O O K AT S E R I O U S O R G U K / K-M U S I C PA G E 2 7 D e s i g n b y w w w . e v e d e s i g n . c o . u k
BOOK AT SERIOUS.ORG.UK/K-MUSIC FIND OUT MORE AT KCCUK.ORG.UK K-Music Festival 2023 1 October – 12 November