5 Indie Rock Bands from Korea That Australians Should Be Following According to Say Sue Me

Live Nation’s Ones to Watch series made a triumphant return to Sydney just last week, spotlighting the next wave of talent from an unexpected but increasingly influential corner of the global music scene—South Korea. Held at Oxford Arts Factory in partnership with the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the event brought a handpicked lineup of rising Korean artists to the stage, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the country’s thriving indie and alt-pop scenes. To mark the occasion, beloved Busan indie rockers Say Sue Me have shared five Korean indie bands you need to know right now

Seaweed Mustache:

Amidst the faint and hazy noise, the melody rises clearly like a wave. It blends seamlessly with Australia’s vast and sometimes overwhelmingly expansive nature.

Hathaway: 

The best 3-piece band born in Busan. Their melodies and performances are pleasantly sticky, yet they never lose their charming cuteness.

READ MORE: Cut Copy Make Triumphant Return With Uplifting New Single ‘Solid’

Soumbalgwang: 

Amidst the pouring noise, this punk band, heavy and desperate yet sometimes possessing delicacy, plays a role in broadly expanding the diversity of Korea’s music scene beyond just Busan.

The 1234-Dah!:

Korean indie scene often gives the impression of being sensitive to trends. While this can be seen as keeping up well with the flow of the times, one could also question whether it lacks diversity.

In contrast, the 1234-dah! is a band that doesn’t follow these trends and plays a rare lo-fi punk in the Korean indie scene.

Silica Gel: 

The band ‘Silica Gel’ consists of 4 members: Kim Hanjoo (keyboard/vocal), Kim Chunchu (guitar/vocal), Kim Geonjay (drums), and Choi Woonghee (bass). The unique psychedelia built on the basis of a colorful spectrum and the live performance of explosive energy have been condensed to become the newest, most courageous, sound-producing band, ‘Silica Gel.’

Whether you’re a long-time K-indie fan or just dipping your toes into the scene, these bands prove that Korea’s musical exports go far beyond K-pop—and the future sounds incredible.