Let’s get one thing out of the way: This is NOT a K-Pop hate post. I love K-Pop and, like many Korea lovers, it’s one of the first things about Korean popular culture I fell in love with. That said, it somewhat frustrates me that many people think that K-Pop makes up the entire landscape of Korean music. I have come to discover so many amazing Korean artists in a variety of genres and hope someday soon they get more international recognition. Here I’d just like to share just some of my favorite Non K-pop Korean music.

Song So-Hee 송소희

While this list will focus on various forms of popular and contemporary genres, I must mention my love of traditional Korean Music or Gugak. It is a musical heritage so stunning, distinct and relatively underrepresented amongst other Asian musical styles. Its raw, expressive nature can be especially felt in vocal traditions such as Pansori – a form of sung theater. I think one of the finest traditional Korean singers today is Song So-Hee. She possesses a stunningly expressive voice, performing a range of Korean folk songs, ballads and even classical interpretations of K-pop classics.

Ak Dan Gwang Chil 악단광칠

Some of the most exciting new bands in South Korea are creating fusions of traditional Gugak and modern music. Ak Dan Gwang Chil (sometime abbreviated to ADG7) offers the complex musical textures of traditional Korean instruments mixed with modern beats, making for a such a powerful sound.

Lee Nalchi 이날치

One of my favorite groups offering a modern fusion with Pansori vocals has to be Lee Nalchi. Rising to fame largely in part to a series of fun Korean tourism ads, Lee Nalchi’s music is a fantastic blend of traditional Korean vocals and classic funk. They often incorporate dancers in their colorful performances.

Dean 딘

Korea’s love of passionate vocals makes it fertile ground for some amazing R&B artists. One of their most popular singers, Dean, really stands out for me with his incredibly smooth and agile voice.

BeWhy 비와이

Rap and Hip-Hop is extremely popular in South Korea and, in this writer’s humble opinion, one of their best artist’s in this genre today is BeWhy. His cunning verses and complex musical textures are on possibly their best display in his iconic hit Gottasadae. His album Movie Star is one of my favorite albums from 2019.

Shin Joong-Hyun 신중현

Known as the Godfather of Korean Rock, Shin Joong-Hyun is arguably the most influential figure in Korean modern music. A talented guitarist, singer and songwriter; his lyrics sometimes reflected Korea’s tumultuous political climate. He was even imprisoned for his protest song “Beautiful Rivers and Mountains” against the then dictator Park Chung Hee. His artistry has made a tremendous contribution to psychedelic rock and truly shaped the future of Korean popular music.

The Pearl Sisters 펄시스터즈

Shin Joong-Hyun composed songs for many artists of the time including The Pearl Sisters. This duo’s beautiful harmonies brought a special touch to that distinctive sound of 60’s psychedelic rock. The Pearl Sisters are undoubtedly one of the most iconic Korean groups of this era and of their songs are still beloved today. I find their sweet and soulful voices really shine here on 비밀 or “Secret”.

Kim Choo-Ja 김추자

While she was most prominent in the 60’s and 70’s, I first heard the fiery Kim Choo-Ja on one of her later albums: It’s Not Too Late. When I heard her powerful, raw vocals, she was to become one of my favorite female rock vocalists.

Silica Gel 실리카겔

Korea has a thriving indie-rock scene and one of the most prominent Korean artists of this genre in recent years is Silica Gel. I remember stumbling upon this group on Spotify and being taken by their balance of hard rock and whimsical lyricism.

Bigbet 빅베트

There are many up and coming indie rock artists in Korea to discover. I find Bigbet incredibly talented with their rich instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics. I have had the fortune of hearing amazing live music in Seoul at great rock venues like Club Bbang (which I highly recommend to any rock music enthusiasts visiting Seoul.)

This is just a snippet of some Non K-Pop Korean music that has touched my heart. I’m aware that many generalize all Korean popular music as K-Pop but for me, there is an undeniably difference between these various genres. While South Korea was largely put on the cultural map by groups like Big Bang and BTS, I really hope some of its other musical flavors can get the international recognition it deserves!

Thank you so much for reading! I can’t wait to continually add on to this list as my knowledge of Korean musicians grows. Pin this story and share on socials to check back for more amazing Korean artist recommendations!