Park Han-sol reports on Korea's financial regulators, along with fintech and insurance. She previously wrote about the art world, from biennales and exhibitions to fairs and auctions, with a focus on Seoul and the figures shaping the scene. Before joining The Korea Times, she spent a year at ABC News' Seoul bureau, contributing to coverage of major Asia-Pacific events.
Alternative K-pop bands to perform in London
A promotional banner for the 2022 K-Music Showcase slated for May 15 at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, London / Courtesy of Korean Cultural Centre UK
By Park Han-sol
By Park Han-sol
Some of the iconic bands that currently lead the alternative K-pop scene will perform in a trendy neighborhood of East London next week.
This year's edition of the K-Music Showcase will return live to London's Shoreditch neighborhood on May 15 (local time) featuring in its lineup the alt hip-hop collective Balming Tiger, indie rock band Se So Neon and Paris-based DJ Didi Han.
Since 2018, the event has been co-organized by the Korean Cultural Centre United Kingdom and community arts hub Rich Mix to introduce Korea's indie musical talents in the heart of the U.K.
Balming Tiger, whose name comes from the popular Tiger Balm ointment, defines itself as a “multi-national alternative K-pop band.” The collective notched the 2020 Korean Hip-hop Award for the Best Music Video for “Armadillo” and has appeared in a number of festivals in Asia and the United States, including SXSW.
Se So Neon, helmed by lead vocalist and guitarist Hwang So-yoon, is known for its own archetypal lo-fi vintage sound. The band won the Rookie of the Year prize at the Korean Music Awards in 2018 and has since performed in different international festivals such as Summer Sonic and Modern Sky Festival.
The two bands will also perform at this year's The Great Escape Festival in Brighton on the southern coast of England, scheduled for May 11 to 14.