Miryang's only punk band speaks up

The punk band Paper Cruise plays at Subriot in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, July 14. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, is known for a few things: its traditional culture, its apples and its mountains. Punk rock is nowhere on that list.

Paper Cruise, the city's only punk band, has both benefited from and been hurt by its unique status. The band members admitted it was tough for their band to fit in in the traditionally conservative city, and shared their own initial reactions to the genre, known for its rebellious and youthful energy.

"My first exposure to punk was at a local festival, where I saw a band. I think I was about to start kindergarten at that time," said Cho Yeong-geun, bassist of Paper Cruise. "Looking back, I think it was a skate punk band. I remember they were wearing baseball caps and plaid shirts. It was an outdoor concert, and the audience was all seated, just watching the performance, so the performer said, 'Everyone, get up! I came because Miryang people said it would be fun, but this is nothing.' That memory really stuck with me, and I think that’s why I could easily get into punk."

When asked about the punk scene today, they said there isn't much to speak of.
"First of all, there's really no 'scene' in Miryang when it comes to music," said Cho Chang-rae, the band's original guitarist. "There are no clubs or venues like that. If there are any, they’re just bands made up of people who used to play back in the day or older guys who learned instruments late and play regular gigs. The music that's dominant here is 70s-80s Korean pop and trot. I think we’re the only punk band in Miryang."

The cover of "Hyper-Dimensional CD Vol.1" is inspired by anime art. Courtesy of the bands

The bandmates said when they play shows down there, people do come out, even if they don't like what they hear.

"There’s enough infrastructure to have a couple of rock concerts a year, and surprisingly, people do come when such events are held," Yeong-geun said.

"Of course, the response wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t terrible either," Chang-rae said. "People were kind of curious, giving us a 'What kind of music is this?' kind of look. I don’t think they hated it, though. Personally, I found it fun."

Yeoung-geun added, "I remember during one show, there was a kid who walked by and plugged his ears with his hands. It was amusing."

Paper Cruise recently appeared on "Hyper-Dimensional CD Vol.1," a short compilation featuring six songs by six bands released earlier this year. They contribute the song "Snail Food," and also participate in the song from Charge! Chestnut Flowers.

Paper Cruise's sound is a textbook example of what is known as "cheongchun" (youth) punk, an especially screechy subgenre that originated in Japan. It is inspired heavily by the trappings of youth, from the agony of puberty to youth culture including anime and comic books. The band receives frequent comparisons to Green Flame Boys, another Korean punk band that pioneered the subgenre here.

"I think the reason we pursued a sound similar to Green Flame Boys is because we wanted to convey that unknown, emotional impact that punk can give," said Cho Su-mok, the drummer. "It also had to feel like something anyone could do, that kind of simplicity and rawness."

The band's bassist and drummer have since relocated to Seoul, where they've kept the band going by recruiting three more members recently. They've quickly been garnering attention in the capital city's punk scene.

Follow @paper_cruise00 on Instagram for more information.