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Description
Korean rock is the broad umbrella for rock music created in South Korea. It took root when American rock and rhythm-and-blues were introduced around U.S. military bases during and after the Korean War, where local musicians learned repertoires, stagecraft, and instrumentation by playing for U.S. troops.
In the 1960s, bands often called "Vocal Bands" or "Group Sound" adapted surf, garage, and Beat-era templates, then moved into psychedelic and folk-rock colors in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Military rule in the 1970s branded rock as a decadent youth culture and imposed censorship and crackdowns, pushing the scene underground.
With liberalization in the 1980s, rock re-emerged in the mainstream—from ballad-rock and hard rock to early heavy metal—while the 1990s and 2000s saw a flourishing indie ecosystem around Seoul’s Hongdae district, spawning alternative, punk, and shoegaze scenes that continue to shape Korean guitar music today.
History
American GIs brought rock ’n’ roll, R&B, surf, and garage to Korea, and local players learned those styles entertaining troops around U.S. bases. By the mid-1960s, homegrown bands—often called "Vocal Bands" or "Group Sound"—were covering and reinterpreting the Beatles, Ventures, and other Beat/British Invasion artists. Guitar-centered setups (electric guitar, bass, drums, organ) and backbeat grooves defined the sound.
As the scene matured, artists explored psychedelic textures, modal folk inflections, and extended song forms. However, under military rule, rock was stigmatized as a corrupting youth culture. Censorship intensified mid-decade, derailing careers and pushing bands off mainstream stages, even as a passionate audience kept the music alive.
Following the loosening of authoritarian policies, rock entered broader pop culture. From anthemic ballad-rock to hard rock and the first heavy metal outfits, Korean rock diversified and started to fill large venues. The decade normalized electric guitar-driven music on major labels and television variety shows.
Hongdae’s club circuit incubated punk, alternative, and shoegaze, giving rise to nationally recognized bands and an enduring festival culture (e.g., Pentaport, Jisan). Cross-pollination with pop, hip-hop, and electronic music widened rock’s palette while preserving core guitar idioms.
Korean rock spans stadium-ready acts to experimental ensembles and hybrid groups that fold in Korean traditional timbres and rhythms. The scene remains cyclical and DIY-driven, with club ecosystems, college festivals, and TV music programs sustaining discovery and careers.
