Kopchangjeongol returns after twists and turns
Kopchangjeongol, a three-member Japanese indie band, is to release their third album “The Day Will Come” next month. / Courtesy of Salad
By Rachel Lee
After eight years of twists and turns in their music career in Korea, Japanese indie band Kopchangjeongol are finally looking forward to happy times ahead.
The three-member rock band signed a contract this month with Salad, a local multi-cultural performing arts group, after they obtained arts/entertainment visas (E-6). This visa is issued to foreigners who earn a living performing music, sell fine art or literature, or who pursue other artistic endeavors.
“We are so thrilled to be back here to start our music career again since I was deported in 2005,” leader Sato Yukie said Thursday in an interview. The 48-year-old singer/founder of the group is married to a Korean woman and speaks fluent Korean. He was deported for performing on a tourist visa.
Asked how they came up with such a Korean name, the leader said he wanted to find something Korean but unique at the same time so that “they could differentiate themselves from other music bands.” Kopchangjeongol is a spicy Korean stew made by boiling beef tripe, vegetables and seasonings in beef broth.
All three members seem to be in love with the country. In particular, Yukie instantly fell in love with Korean rock music in 1995 as soon as he first heard music by Korean rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Shin Jung-hyeon.
“I decided to learn the language and music so that it could help me compose or remake songs in the near future. As you can see, our first album comprises of remakes of some old Korean rock music,” said Yukie.
Drummer Ito Koki first became interested in Korea when he dated a Korean Japanese girl 17 years ago. “When I first came here in 1999, I performed with Shinchon Blues quite a few times. Since then, I began to lean more about the culture and people here,” said the 43-year-old artist.
Base Akai Kojiro, who joined the band in 2009, doesn’t understand or speak the language but believes he can communicate with fans through his music. “I love performing abroad since music is a universal language,” said the 40-year-old musician. “What I love about Korea is people and the Confucian culture. I think they have good manners.”
The band’s second album “Let’s Dance with De” was released for the first time in 12 years after the release of the first album “Hello” in 1999. According to the band, their third album titled “The day will come,” to be released next month, contains messages of peace and is the opposite of their usual heavy guitar and lyrics.
“We hope to perform in front of large crowds in Korea and even appear on television shows as well. And also, if a chance is given, all of us will be very happy to perform Korean rock music in Tokyo, Japan,” said Yukie.
Kopchangjeongol is to hold a small concert at live performance hall at Hongik University in Seoul. For more information, visit
or call (02) 2254-0517.