Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World
Volume 13 | Issue 48 | Number 1 | Article ID 4401 | Nov 30, 2015 The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World Stephen Epstein Précis: This article, intended as a companion engagement with the world at large.1 New to the recent documentaryUs and Them: opportunities and challenges now regularly Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World co- present themselves. DFSB Kollective, for produced by Stephen Epstein and Timothy example, is an export-focused music marketing Tangherlini, situates Korean indie and punk and distribution agency run by Bernie Cho, a rock within a broader context in order to Korean-American based in Seoul. In 2015, for demonstrate how what may seem a byway the fifth consecutive year, Cho and his staff within Korean culture serves as a useful index brought several indie groups to Austin’s of important recent societal transformations. As renowned South by Southwest (SXSW) music the nature of not only global media flows and festival to perform on a branded stage, titled musical circulation but Korean national identity SeoulSonic. Since 2014, they have also helped and economic structures all undergo significant organize the “K-Pop Night Out,” which unites change, how should observers understand mainstream and independent artists. The event, “Korean” “indie” music and its meanings as of one of the best attended international 2015? How have the local punk and indie showcases at SXSW, is funded by KOCCA, the scenes developed in concert with, and in Korea Creative Content Agency, a government contrast to, K-pop? organization located under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
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